Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-22
OFFICIALS EXPECT
/. MOVE FOR PEACE
BY BELL|GERENT
Resentment On Part Of Allied
Nations Is Calming
Down
HOPE THAT PROPOSALS
MET RESPONSIVE CHORD
Secretary Lansing's Two
Statements of Yesterday
Mystify Diplomats
By Robert ]. Bender.

(Omted Press start correspondent
Washington, Dec. 90 = Recovering
slowly from the dizzy whirl of yester-
days history making developments.
government officials and foreign dipli
mats here today looked to the foreign
office of the belligerent nations for the
next peace move.
AS outlined in early reports strong
exception was at first taken to Presi
dent Wilson 3 overtures in both English
aud Canadian press. The outspoken ex-
lpression, seemingly today has been toned
down, the move now being called mere
ly "inopportune. The attitude of al
lied diplomats here also shows trend
in the same direction.
The administration believes, how
ever, this feeling is not sufficient to
cast any real gloom over the situation.
il appears the same surprise and won
derment was occasioned in Europe by
the president IS overtrures as weer mani
fest here when his move became known.
The first wonderment over, the pTesi-
dent believes the warriors will feel far
moro inclined at least seriously and
carefully to consider his suggestions.
Accurate sounding of the allied gov
ernment's attitude cannot be- definitely
known for several days at least. This
government is meanwhile convinced
that when this accurate sounding is TAX
cn, it may show the proposals struck
responsive chord.
What Did Lansing Mean7
After struggling with attempts to
fathem just what lay behind Secretary
| Lansing's two announcements yesterday
one qualifying the other so as praeti-
cally to discount some of its apparent
meaning Officials and diplomats here
reached the following conclusion to-
day:
President Wilson has made his first
step in a more vigorous course deter
mined upon to maintainAmerican rights
during the war.
He has warned both sides that in the
event of any herculean and final des-
perate effort to win-should present
peace overtures collapse-America must
not be made to suffer.
The move was prompted primarily to
bring peace before further blows may
be struck at the structure of interna-
/ tional law.
It was made not only in the interests
of the United States but was influenced
by the appeals from all neutrals to this
country for some strong positive stand.
The United States government IS de.
/ termined to remain out of the war X
/ possible, but warns the danger of nnre-
stricted activities by belligerents should
THE strife continue.
So far its attitude on neutrality IS
1
changed.
He has not switched from his strong
conviction that the country does not
want war if peace can be maintained
with honor.
He will use every human means pos
sible to keep the country aloof from the
struggle
But he sees in the possible failure OF
present peace negotiations acute dang
er from the influence of an emblttered
people. This governments view has
been that should the allies refuse to
discuss peace with Germany, the Ger
man people will be convinced England s
purpose is to destroy. SO influenced,
the German public, it is feared, Will
even more strongly support the very
government England is bent upon disln-
tegrating and will demand more ruth
less. more unrestricted and more deter
mined pursuit Of the war, on the sea
particularly. This would endanger AM
erica.
Allied diplomats believed Secretary