PRESIDENT & CONGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 3

PRESIDENT & CONGRESS

HIS PLAGE AT PEACE TABLE. NEEDS OF FRANCE AND BELGIUM. THE U.S. NAVY. Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright. Australian and N.Z Cable aesociatioH and Reuter. WASHINGTON, December 2. Mr Wilson, in his speech to Congress, said: “ I take it for granted that Congress will carry out the naval programme undertaken before we entered the war. The Secretary for the Navy has submitted part of the programme, which covers building plans for the next three years, prepared in accordance with the policy which Congress established, not under the exceptional conditions of war, but with the intention of to a definite method of development of the_ navy. I earnestly recommend the uninterupted pursuit of that policy. It bo certainly unwise to attempt to adjust our programme to a future world policy as yet undetermined.” Mr Wilson continued: “My reasons for attending the Peace Conference are that the allied Governments have accepted as the basis of peace the points I in my Note of January 8 lo the Central Empires. They also have a very reasonaple desire for my persona! counsel in their interpretation and application. It is liigluy desirable that I saould give it, in order that the sincere desire or oar Government to contribute without selfish purpose and lead to settlements that- will be of common benefit to all the nations concerned may be made iuliy manifest■ I shall make my absence as brief as possible, and hope to return with the happy assurance that it has been possible to translate into action the great ideals for which America has striven.” Turning to the task of promoting peace, the President said peace must be scrure against the violence of monarch s arid the ambitious of military coteries, and mado ready for the new order and the new foundations of justice and fair dealing- “We are.” he said, “ about to five order and organisation to this peace, hot only for ourselves, but for the other peoples of the world, as far as suffer us to serve them. It is international justice we seek, not domestic safety merely.” Referring to the special needs of Belgium and Northern France, the Presidentsaid no monetary indemnity could save them from hopeless disadvantage for years to come unless they were specially assisted to rebuild their ' factories and replace machinery. He hoped _ Congress would facilitate *the priority of export to these countries.

Reviewing America’s part in the war, the President said : “'A hat we all thank God for is that our men went in force into tho line of battle just at the critical moment, when the whole fate of the world seemed hanging in the balance, and threw their fresh strength into the ranks of freedom in time to turn the whole tide of the fateful struggle, and turn it once for all.”

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, December 2. The ‘New York Times’s’ Washington correspondent learns that Mr Wilson will leave for France on December 4. JAPAN’S DELEGATES. NEW YORK, December 2. The ‘New York Times’s’ Washington correspondent has learned from official circles that the Japanese peace delegation will he composed of the Marquis Saionji, Baron Makinoi, Yiscount Chimingda, and Mr Matsui. THE EX-KAISER. EXTRADITION WANTED. Router’s Telegrams. VANCOUVER, December 2. A London message states that it is announced that the War Cabinet, including colonial representatives, unanimously decided to press Holland to extradite the exKaiser.