American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-12-21
PRESIDENT WILSON APPEALS
TO WARRING NATIONS
Urges Outline Of Basis Upon which
War May BE Ended-Action Comes
As Complete Surprise.

| President Wilson has appealed to
all the belligerents to discuss terms
of peace.
Without actually proposing peace or
offering mediation the president hss
sent formal notes to the governments
OF all the warning nations suggestIre
that IAN early occasion be- sought "a
call out from the nations now at war
such an avowal of their respective
views as to the terms upon which the
war might be concluded and the ar
rangements which would be deemed
satisfactory as guarantee axainst
its renewal or the kindling OF any
similar conflict in the future, as would
make II possible frankly to compare
them"
Wholly without notice and entirely
contrary to what administration Of
ficials have described as his course.
the president Tuesday night dispatch
ed the notes to all the belligerents,
and to all the neutrals FOR their infor-
nation. Summarized In the presi-
dents own words as contained In the
notes. his attitude is as follows:
The president is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media
tion. He is merely proposing that
soundngs be taken In order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerents, how near the haven
OF peace may be for which all man
kind longs with an intense and in
creasing longing.
/ He believes that the spirit IN which
he speaks and the objects which he
seeks Will be understood by all con-
cerned, and he confidently hopes for
response which will bring a new
light into the affairs OF the world.
This latest development In the rap
idly moving world events toward .
discussion OF peace was not permit
ted to become known until Wednesday
night when the notes were we'll on
their way to the American ambassa-
dors In the belligerent capitals and
probably already In the hands OF
some OF them.
II was a most distinct surprise 70
all official Washington which had
been led to believe that with the for
NAL transmittal OF the proposals Of
the central powers the offices OF the
United States would await further
moves between the belligerents them
selves and that certainly, In view OF
the speech OF Premier Lloyd-Georgs
and the announcements In Russia,
France and Italy. further action by
neutrals would depend upon the next
( careful and delicate moves OF the bel
ligerents.
The whole tenor OF official opin-
ion throughout Washington, when the
presidents action became known
was that Il immeasurably improved
the prospects for some sort OF ex-
change looking toward an approach
/ TO peace discussions between the bel
ligerents without lmpairing the posi-
tion OF the United States should they
finally be unable to find good
ground on which TO approach one an
other.
At the White House no statement
whatever could be obtained as To
whether any OF the powers even had
intimated how they would receive the
note. and there was every indication
that the same careful secrecy. which
prevented anything whatever becom-
ing known about the presidents ac-
tion until 1t had been taken, would
surround any OF the secceedins
moves.
Nowhere on the surface appears
any indication OF the history making
events which diplomatists generally
are convinced must have transpired
since the German allies brought forth
their proposals, 10 dispel the generally
prevalent belief that such an action
on the part OF President Wilson would
be unacceptable to the entente
powers.
British embassy afficials declared
they were utterly taken by surprise,
were wholly unable TO explain It, ana
were emphatic In their statement that
no exchanges whatever had passed
through the embassy here as pre-
| liminary.
VtStr ng a nAAg IN IuUUNAuS