UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1919, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

PRESIDENT'S BOSTON SPEECH. WHY AMERICANS ARE TRUSTED. {AMERICANS FIGHTING IN A DREAM TURNED THE TIDE OF BATTLE. Received Feb. 27, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 24. President Wilson, in his Boston speech, Mid he had not come to report on the proceedings of the Peace Conference, as that would be premature. He explained that the slowness of progress was due to the immense complexity of the questions t<H be dealt with. He was struck by the Moderateness of those representing various national claims. Nowhere nad he seen a gleam of passion. He had seen earnestness, even tears, of those pleading :he cause of the downtrodden peoples, but they were not tears of anger : ..hey were tears of ardent bope. Amidst all and jverv interest, they sought out, first of ill when they reached Paris, the representatives of the United States. "Why ? Because—l think lam stating the most wonderful fact in history—there is no nation in Europe that suspects the motive of the United States. It is not that representatives of other nations are not Mteemed, but the nations of Europe have again and again clashed with one another in competitive interests, and it is impossible for men to forget those sharp issues Which were drawn between them in times past. So they resort to that nation which has won the enviable distinction of being regarded as the friend of mankind." President Wilson reiterated that Am- j erica had won this confidence because of i the unselfish ideals with which she entered the war. He added: "Speaking inthe name of the neople of the United | States, I have aimed, as the subject of this great war, at ideals, and nothing but ideals, and the war has been won by that inspiration." Men were fighting with tense muscle and lowered head, until I came to realise these things, and when these accounts of what it was all about reached them from America they raised their eyes to Heaven, lien have testified to me in Europe that our men possessed somethirg they could only term religious fervor. They were not like my other soldiers. They had a dream: they were fighting in a dream, and, fighting in a dream, they turned the whole tide of battle, and it never came back." A NEW ERA DAWNING. President Wilson emphasised that the confidence America had" established throughout the world had imposed a great burden upon her. All the peoples in Europe were now buoyed up in confidence, In spirit and in hope, because they believed they were on the eve of a new age, when the nations will under- , stand how to support one another in eve; / jnst cause, and unite ; n every moral and physical strength to see that right shall prevail. AMERICA MUST JUSTIFY HOPES. America was now the hope of the world, and if she does not justify that hope the results will be unthinkable, for men will be thrown back in despair, and all the nations will s>t up as hostile camps again. THE NATIONS DETERMINED. Reviewing the necessity for an effectual peace, President Wilson said the nations of the world had set their heads- to do a great thing. They were np f going to slacken in their purpose. The people of these nations are in the saddle, and they are going to see if their present | governments don't do their will some other governments will." PRESIDENT FORCING A VERDICT. GENERAL APPROVAL EXPECTED. Received Feb. 27, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 26. Country-wide opinion has crystalised into a general approval of President Wilson's speech and the League of Na-. lions. It is believed his dinner to Congressmen will have the effect of swaying opinion towards his convictions, because he will submit arguments not previously published and take the legislators into his confidence. President Wilson will crack the whip over his supporters, and compel irgislators and the people to declare plainly whether or not they support his policy. It is believed that President Wilson's apeech explaining the League of Nations, which is awaited with the keenlit interest, will convert American opinion to his vew.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE LEAGUE EXPLAINED. f AMERICA MUST MAKE SACRIFICES. Received Feb. 27, 10.35 p.m. Washington, Feb. 27. Resident Wilson told Congressmen, at a discussion on the League of Nations, that he hoped the League constitution would be adopted without radical changes. He said the constitution of tlie League did not necessitate the abandonment of the Monroe doctrine, but would extend it to the whole world. The United States must be prepared to take her part in policing Armenia. When the United States joined the League some of the country's attributes of sovereignty would have to be surrendered, but it would be the same for the other members of the League.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. QUESTION OF TRANSFER OF SHIPS MILITARISM THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE LEAGUE. (Rec. February 27, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, Feb. 26. In connection with the reports that the British Admiralty prevented the transfer of the International Mercan- . tile Corporation Fleet to the United Sutes, the Shipping Board Council advise the Shipping Board that it has not the power to prevent the transfer of the fieot to direct British ownership. Mr Daniels, in a spe'eVi, made refer- , ence to the League of Nations. He said that the United States cannot retorn to the world we left when we entered the war. We are now a part ot the whole world. The alternative to the league is the burden of militarism for the world and the (United State*-