New-York tribune., 1922-11-24
Clemencean's Speech That
Stirred Hearers at Luncheon
Told New York Editors at ''World'' Affair He Has
No Definite Plan, but if u. S. Realizes Frances
Plight She Will Do Her Part

and had TO turn to the American SOL
diers TO find out about his govern
rnent. He would greet the American
soldier, say 'How do you do? What
Is your government Did you get the
qualifications you expected from de-
morracy?" And they all laughed. ''It
you knew your power to-a as vou
seemed to have known at that time-the
great crisis the end OF which no one
can foresee! 1t is very easy to see
that we are in a crisis, and IL you do
not choose carefully the means, and II
you do not unite your parties-well
the time has come, / thought, when
hAmsrican people ought to think about
their responsibility.
81 beg Of you do not come here to
blame, to judge or TO criticise. We can
all make mistakes. You can ask me any
question about my political life. | also
have made some mistakes, if I should
say the truth.
"Well. the time has come for you
to make UP your mind. am not going
to tell you what to do, how to do it,
when to do it, but am going to tell
you that the black clouds are on the
horizon far away for all the civilized
world
81 admire American soldiers ad-
nlire the British soldier, who behaved
in the splendid way. When I hear an
American say, What is it to me p
what is IL to the Australian who gave
his lie? He enjoyed his freedom, and
ne wanted everybody to have a share
OF it. Do not put yourself below what
you are really worth in spite Of
yourself.
Wants No Pity
81 did not come for pity nor for pro-
lection of my health. l bring health
with me. feel, having lived in the
situation which is coming soon, sooner
| than you think, and | come to wake you
( up. Not to do any worrying or on ac-
count of any economic question. | do
not come for money, My principle is
every honest debt must be honestly
paid
"Sec what our situation is. If you
doubt it, como out and see the devas-
tated regions that have been destroyed
SO that we may not have any economic
success for long time. Immediately
after the arnistice was signed. Think
Of it! Why Twenty thousand man
ufactories destroyed; every piece
of the machinery taken; the coal mines
put in such condition that they will
not be used for years and years. That
was the treatment we had for France.
cculQ say we were quite as badly
treated by our own people, but / do
| not think it.
Left in Lurch
"My friends, think of it, you left US
in lurch, and in q lurch we are.
| come to warn you because | know what
you mean at the bottom Of your hearts.
l do not want to ask decision. /
| want you to. decide as you think best
for America, because know what is best
For America is best for Europe and
the world. Do not forget the respon-
sibility which you have toward the
civilized world. We have our share
OF it.
~ have no illusion about the history
of my country. l am pleading for an
American influence in Europe that will
protect Germany against France, if
necessary, no less than France against
Germany.
do not forget you wanted to call
men to help when you broke with
England. Otherwise what would you
have been? But you saw your cause
much higher and you cried out to the
world: Here we are! We fight for
happiness; we fight for liberty; we
| fight for the human soul and hearG
Was that not the great end?
II have allowed myself TO speak a