Woodrow Wilson Praised By Smuts
Title
Woodrow Wilson Praised By Smuts
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP16644
Date
1930 January 15
Description
Report on visit of South African General Jan Christian Smuts to Washington and his comments on Woodrow Wilson.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
______________
Rear-Admiral Cary Grayson, who came down from Washington yesterday to spend the night as Governor Byrd’s guest at the executive mansion, today told The News Leader that the South African statesman, General Jan Christian Smuts, yesterday placed a wreath on the tomb of Woodrow Wilson in Washington and pronounced the former president America’s greatest citizen.
“I place this wreath,” said General Smuts in the cathedral, “in memory of America’s greatest citizen, and a great benefactor of humanity.”
Returning with Smuts from the cathedral, Dr. Grayson asked the general why he placed Wilson above Washington or Lincoln. General Smuts replied that Washington and Lincoln spoke to America, but that Woodrow Wilson spoke his voice rang around the world. But for Wilson the general continued, civilization might have perished.
General Smuts explained that Wilson had stood for unified command in the world war, had advocated the North Sea barrage, and had performed very great service to the allied cuase in dispatching America’s army to France before it was fully trained. General Smuts went on to say that Wilson believed the training of the troops could be completed in France more rapidly than in the United States and that, in addtion, the very presence of a great United States force in the battle-zone would have a profound effect psychologically on the Germans. And this, General Smuts concluded, had proved to be the case. The great American army broke the spirit of the Germans.
Above all, said General Smuts, Wilson had stood and had fought for the league of nations, so that the horrors of a world war might not be repeated.
The only regret about his trip to America, General Smuts told Admiral Grayson, was that he had been unable to visit Virginia. He did not wish to come to Virginia for a few brief hours, the general said, but for a week, at least, during which he might follow the marches of Lee and Jackson who, he confided, he knew better than he did any living man. He hoped later to return to America, specifically for a pilgrimage through Virginia.
Rear-Admiral Cary Grayson, who came down from Washington yesterday to spend the night as Governor Byrd’s guest at the executive mansion, today told The News Leader that the South African statesman, General Jan Christian Smuts, yesterday placed a wreath on the tomb of Woodrow Wilson in Washington and pronounced the former president America’s greatest citizen.
“I place this wreath,” said General Smuts in the cathedral, “in memory of America’s greatest citizen, and a great benefactor of humanity.”
Returning with Smuts from the cathedral, Dr. Grayson asked the general why he placed Wilson above Washington or Lincoln. General Smuts replied that Washington and Lincoln spoke to America, but that Woodrow Wilson spoke his voice rang around the world. But for Wilson the general continued, civilization might have perished.
General Smuts explained that Wilson had stood for unified command in the world war, had advocated the North Sea barrage, and had performed very great service to the allied cuase in dispatching America’s army to France before it was fully trained. General Smuts went on to say that Wilson believed the training of the troops could be completed in France more rapidly than in the United States and that, in addtion, the very presence of a great United States force in the battle-zone would have a profound effect psychologically on the Germans. And this, General Smuts concluded, had proved to be the case. The great American army broke the spirit of the Germans.
Above all, said General Smuts, Wilson had stood and had fought for the league of nations, so that the horrors of a world war might not be repeated.
The only regret about his trip to America, General Smuts told Admiral Grayson, was that he had been unable to visit Virginia. He did not wish to come to Virginia for a few brief hours, the general said, but for a week, at least, during which he might follow the marches of Lee and Jackson who, he confided, he knew better than he did any living man. He hoped later to return to America, specifically for a pilgrimage through Virginia.
Original Format
Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Woodrow Wilson Praised By Smuts,” 1930 January 15, WWP16644, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.