New Britain herald., 1930-04-29
Former Secretary of State Says Signing of Yer sailIes Treaty Was Crest of Presidents Career.

St. Louis, Mo, April g GP) - A picture of President Wilson con- quering physical ill health and d- recting governmental policies with unimpaired mental clarity until he retired from offiCo was skctchod last night by Bainbridgc Colby, in innate friend and his last secretary Of state, in an address at the Mis- souri Historical society's annual din- ner.
 Speaking on "The close of Wood TOW Wilson's administration and the final years" MT. Colby credited the war president with supervising the problems of demobilization, and initiating foreign policies with re- gard to Russia, Mexico, and tho league of nations mandates which have been followed by succeeding administrations. As to Russia, he said the stand later called Hard ing's policy" "tho Hughes policy" and "the Coolidge policy was only q continuation Of the attitude enun- ciated by the Wilson administration,
 A note regarding occupation of the northern half of the island of Sakhalin by the Japanese fore shadowed' the American position regarding the Russian Soviet re- sime, Mir. Colby said. This attitude was that the United States would look with disfavor upon any attempt 10 despoil Russia of it's territory dur ing revolution and civil war. The speaker added that definite attitude regarding recognition of the Soviet rule was taken in August, 1920. Recognition was refused, he said, because of repeated dcnials and Populations Of the principles and .usages which arc the foundation of international order and comity," and ''in no wise due to disa pproval of any particular political or cco- homie system which Russia might sec fit to adopt"
 Policy Stands Intact
 - The policy, thus cnunciated in the final year of the Wilson admin istration, has been Nariously re- ferred to in the years that followed as the Harding policy" and "the Hughes policy" and the Coolidge policy" but not the slightest depar- ture from it has taken place, and it stands today, intact. as America s attitude on this far reaching qucs- tion."
 The signing of the Versailles treaty of peace, Mir. Colby said, marked the crest of Woodrow Will sons career or at least, of his pub lie exclamation and world inilu- ence." Of his fight for the ratifca- tion of the treaty, which led to the breakdown of his health. he contin- ued:
 With blithe courage and unsWerv- ing confidence he bent to the task. How valiantly he waged his single handed battle for the ratification of the treaty will be told by history, again and again. Others might fal- ter, but not he. Others might prof fer compromises-not he. His mo- lions of signature may seem to a later day. d little restricted. He thought of it, rather simply, as something to be honored. His idea of a. pledge also had little angu- larity about it. He regarded it as something to be redeemed-cven redeemed without reservations"
 He recalled a remark of the for mer president. about a year after he had left the White House, on the failure of the ratification.
 - The poison Of untruth,' he said has gone so deep into the wells of popular thinking. that it will be 50 wears, at least, before a rational pub lie opinion as to the true founda- tions of our security and as to our international duty is rcstored'.'
 Depicting the manifold problems of demobilizing the "vast war ma chine' of the United States Mr. Colby said: "The president never relinquished his supervision and d- rection of these measures"
 No Mental Abatement
 While he only partially recovered his physical energy, after his shattor- ing illness, his mind showed no abatement of it's clarity and pcnctra tion,' said Mir. Colby. "IntcrvicWs with him were shortened, if possi- ble, and more guardedly conceded Everyone made an effort 10 come to tho point quickly, to save his time and spare his strength. And yet full justice was done to every subject"
 Mir. Colby told how touched MT Wilson was when the New York legislature passed an act admitting him to the bar of the state of New York, The day before the close Of his administration he had announced intention to resume practice of law He was admitted 10 the bar of the District Of Columbia on motion.
 The speakers association with Mir Wilson continued until 19o3, the Year before his death.