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Show PRES. WILSON GUESTOF A. P, Chief Executive Greeted With Cheers at Annual Luncheon of Great News-gathering Body. DEFINES NEUTRALITY World's Affairs Rapidly Drawing Draw-ing to Climax Test of United States' Friendship Friend-ship to Come. New York, April 20 President Wilson arrived here shortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon to attend the annual luncheon of the Associated Press at the Waldorf Astoria. He was loudly cheered by several hundred hun-dred persons who were gathered at the Pennsylvania railroad station to greet him. On the way to the hotel he waved his hat almost continuously to crowds along the streets He was welcomed on his arrival at the luncheon lunch-eon by a committee of the Associated Press President Wilson In an annual luncheon of the Associated Press here this afternoon gave a definite statement state-ment of his idea of true neutrality and of the duties that devolve upon America's Amer-ica's connection with the European war The president declared that the neutrality of the United States was not a petty desire to keep out of trouble trou-ble because th-ere -was something much better to do. A great distinction distinc-tion was coming to the United States the distinction of a nation's self control and self-mastery- He said such a nation was bound to play an important im-portant part in adjusting the affairs of the world, once the fighting is ended. No Hampering Ambitions. "We have no hampering ambitions." ambi-tions." he declared; "we do not want a foot of anybody's territory. Isn't such a nation bound to be free to serve the other nations" The president was introduced by President Frank B. N'oyes of the Associated As-sociated Press and was greeted with cheers. "I am deeply gratified by the gon-i gon-i rous reception vou have accorded I nie." he said "It makes me look back with a touch of regret to former for-mer occasions when I have stood in this place aud enjoyed a greater lib-1 erty than is granted me today. There have been times when I stood in this spot and said what I really thought! and I pray God those days of indulg ! ence may be accorded mo again. But I have come here today, of course, somewhat restrained by a sense of duty that I cannot escape. For I take the Associated Press very serious! j 1 know the enormous part that you play In the affairs not only of this country, coun-try, but of the world. You deal in the raw material of opinion tnd, if my convictions have anv validity, opinion ultimately governs the world |