胡適留學日記卷七五〇、節錄《威爾遜訓詞》

卷七五〇、節錄《威爾遜訓詞》

　　（十二月九日）

　　美總統威爾遜氏昨蒞國會行開會禮讀訓詞，中有一節論國防，駁今日浮囂之徒主張增軍備之說，甚中肯要，錄其一小節：

　　We are at peace with all the world. No one who speaks counsel based on fact or drawn from a just and candid interpretation of realities can say that there is reason to fear that from any quarter our independence or the integrity of our territory is threatened. Dread of the power of any other nation we are incapable of. We are not jealous of rivalry in the fields of commerce or of any other peaceful achievement. We mean to live our lives as we will; but we mean also to let live. We are, indeed, a true friend to all the nations of the world, because we threaten none, covet the possessions of none, desire the overthrow of none. Our friendship can be accepted and is accepted without reservation, because it is offered in a spirit and for a purpose which no one need ever question or suspect. Therein lies our greatness. We are the champions of peace and of concord. And we should be very jealous of this distinction which we have sought to earn. Just now we should be particularly jealous of it, because it is our dearest present hope that this character and reputation may presently, in God's providence, bring us an opportunity such as has seldom been vouchsafed any nation, the opportunity to counsel and obtain peace in the world and reconciliation and a healing settlement of many a matter that has cooled and interrupted the friendship of nations. This is the time above all others when we should wish and resolve to keep our strength by self-possession, our influence by preserving our ancient principles of action.

　　〔中譯〕

　　我們與世界和平共處。如果從實際出發，從公正無私的現實來考慮問題，就沒有理由擔心我們的獨立和領土完整會受到來自地球某個地方的威脅。我們的力量不能夠威脅他國，但我們並不妒忌我們的對手在貿易領域或其他和平競賽的領域所取得的成就。我們決意按自己的意願生活，也決意讓別人按他們的意願生活。我們確是世界各國真正的朋友，因為我們不威脅他人，不覬覦他人的財產，不圖謀推翻任何人。我們的友誼能夠被別人接受，毫無保留地接受。因為我們所希望的，那就是不要讓任何人有一絲懷疑，也將這種友誼奉獻出來。我們是世界和平的擁護者，我們不應該心懷妒忌，想去尋求這種榮譽。此刻我們特別地希望這種榮譽，因為這是我們目前最為迫切的希望。希望這種榮譽以上帝的旨意將帶給我們一個機會，而這種機會是極少會去賜給任何國家的。這個機會就是在世界各國間進行調解，醫治創傷，恢復各國間中斷而冷卻了的友誼，使世界重新恢復和平。在這個重要的時刻，我們決心沉著應戰以增強我們的力量，維護我們一貫的行動準則以擴大我們的影響。

　　威氏亦今日不可多得之理想家也。其所持政治思想，可講為西方文明最高之產兒。其人欲以道德為內政，以道德為外交，吾所謂「一致」者是也。其訓詞之結語尤有精彩，錄之如下：

　　I close, as I began, by reminding you of the great tasks and duties of peace which challenge our best powers and invite us to build what will last, the tasks to which we can address ourselves now and at all times with freehearted zest and with all the finest gifts of constructive wisdom we possess. To develop our life and our resources; to supply our own people, and the people of the world as their need arises, from the abundant plenty of our fields and our marts of trade; to enrich the commerce of our own States and of the world with the products of our mines, our farms, and our factories, with the creations of our thought and the fruits of our character,—this is what will hold our attention and our enthusiasm steadly, now and in the years to come, as we strive to show in our life as a nation what liberty and the inspirations of an emancipated spirit may do for man and for societies, for individuals, for states, and for mankind.

　　〔中譯〕

　　就像我開始說過的，在結束之前，我要提醒諸位，偉大的任務與和平的責任要求我們付出最大的力量，召喚我們去建設持久的和平。我們現在以及將來都要為它付出我們火一樣的熱情，傑出的才能和創造的智慧。改善我們的生活，開發我們的資源，向豐茂的田野和貿易市場索取，供應我們的人民以及全世界的人民以滿足他們日益增長的需求。以我們的礦山、農場和工廠的產品，以我們思想的結晶，以我們的才幹造就的成果去豐富我國及全世界的貿易。現在以至將來，這些都將不斷要求我們去注意並為之付出熱情。我們力求在我們的生活中表現出來，作為一個國家，其自由和具有鼓舞性的精神解放將對社會、個人、國家以及人類作出偉大的貢獻。

　　使世界各國之為政者皆若威爾遜然，則此空前之惡戰決不致出現於二十世紀之中也。

　　美國今得威氏為主，輔以白來恩（Wm. J. Bryan，亦今日之理想家），故得逍遙局外，不與聞戰事。若羅斯福在白宮，則國事未可知矣。

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