New-York tribune., 1921-12-11
Viuiar.i, Accepting for France, Pledges
Full adhesion Without Reservations

have been asking themselves in anx-
iety whether really there would be no
change in the conditions Of the civil
lied world, and they have been won
dering whether justice would rise to
the height of their noble endeavors.
And then this conference was con-
vened
well the peoples Of TIE world be-
gan to say, What will be the outcome
Of this conferences; is 1t to be another
meeting, is It to be another consulta-
ton? Is it to end in idle talk? Or is
it going to result in either night or
light issuing out of this conference7
"Gentlemen, I think the answer has
been clearly given and, thanks to the
ments, thanks to this draft treaty, I
think the conference has been sue
cess and that the peoples of mankind
can atS last believe tho progress of
civilization"
Senator Lodge referred to the Pa
cific regions being far removed, In far
distant parts of the globe, and wish
was expressed that the will of peace
should be extended to other parts Of
the world. All, gentlemen, to whom
but to the French delegation could
these. words be more agreeable and
sound more welcome? Say this think
ing of all the suffering that we have
had to go through, having in mind
mourning families, the dead who cover
our soil, fifteen hundred thousand
tombs that ere on such bare. barren
/ ground that we wonder if the spring
will ever bring flowers enough to en-.
able us to decorate these tombs.
"Gentlemen, when we remember all
TINS there are no words that can be
more welcome than the words of peace.
we have done everything to avoid war.
can personally bear witness to this.
! as because of untoward circumstances
happened to be at the head of the
French government when war broke
out. |, as head of the government. as
sumed the terrible responsibility of
ordering the French troops to with
draw within ten kilometers of ouv own
frontier. I assumed the responsibility
of delivering part Of my country to
the, enemy in order to avoid any pos
slble cause Of conflict and SO that it
could not be said that France had been
the first to open hostilities.
mo Human Hope Left
Il took the responsibility to wait
until the last moment to order mobili-
zation in Europe that was shiyeripp
and ready in her armor to meet the
foe. ] waited until the last hour, the
last minute. l waited as long as there
was CLEAN Of hope left, until there
was hope for peace, and it was only
at the last moment, when no human
hope was left, that I assumed the re-
ssponsibil'ty OF ordering mobilization;
put at last France, had to go in, she
decided to take chance and fight not
only. for her own dignity and inde-
pendence, but for the liberties of the
world and the destInIes Of civilization
Gentlemen. now we have laid dowr
our arms. OF course, j cannot pre-.
sumo to speak on behalf of other no.
tions, but | feel sure they will be
with me; and permit me to say that
we in Europe do not ask you here in
the States to interfere with European
affairs. We respect the independence
of the United States. We do not pre-,
sumo to ask you to interfere in any
way whatever; but however you Judge
US, you are free to Judge us, and be-
fore you express your opinion we will
ask you 60 listen to us and have q
little forbearance
Europe is an old country; it is &
war-wearied world over which twenty
centuries of fighting and struggles
hundreds of times in blood and tears
frontiers have been trampled upon
countries have been torn to pieces ant
floods of hatred and v'llainy have beer
pouring during centuries over that ole
ground. And Co end this there has
been war which has laid whole coun.
tries waste and which has destroyed
whole expanses of cultivated land.
"a war, did say, gentlemen That
is not the right word. You have wit
messed and you have taken share in
a revolution, not war; that is to sa.
a revolution that crushed forever, /
hope, the spirit Of militarism and au-
tocracy, and while we are crushing the
old spirit OF domination we were calling
20 life, we were calling to light and to
hope and joy number of young ma
tlons. Gentlemen, these nations have
just now been brought into the world,
they have been created and you have