Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 851.00S/2: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Sharp ) to the Secretary of State

Paris , December 12, 1918—10 p.m. [?]
[Received December 13—10 a.m.]

For the President. Mr. Renuder [Renaudel], at the head of a delegation representing the various groups of socialists and men of [five words missing], just left with me copy of an address which they wish to present to you at 3:30 Saturday afternoon. It is also planned to have at the same time a large parade of working men in your honor. Following is a verbatim copy of the salient points of the address which covers nearly five pages: [Page 149]

“The general labor confederation, strong with a million union members, the socialist party, which, at the beginning of the war, had in parliament one hundred members representing one million two hundred thousand citizens, have wished to prove to you that your hope of speaking to the masses, which had until then been silent, has not been vain. But how could they omit affirming to you that thousands and thousands of men, women and children in France, a silent mass, whose ancestors struggled so for the rights of citizens, are with you in your desire to fix the rights of nations and to realize the peace of the peoples. An immense task which will not be the work of a moment for which the statesman will only be able to sow the fruitful seeds at the peace conference, and then afterwards count on the good will of the peoples for the beneficent harvest. It is not mere chance that today brings the workers, the socialists and the democrats of France towards you. Thus, it follows, French labor believes the world must be ripe for democracy. It is with that object in view that you have laid down your fourteen articles of peace. The peoples now expect the rapid peace will record and define exactly the fourteen peace stipulations in order that the world’s reconstruction may at last seriously begin.”

Quotations are made in the speech from the resolutions of the London conferences of February, 1915, and February, 1918.

Complete copy of the speech will be handed you upon arrival at Brest.

Sharp