Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1916-12-21
KEEPING OUT OF
THE WORLD WAR
Continued from page one)

would intercede in some way has
long been well known and has been
conveyed in different ways to the
White House. The attitude of the
entente allies. as expressed by their
statement, and. certainly, until re-
Gently in official advices to the
American government, has been that
peace offer by the United States
would be considered almost the next
thing to unfriendly.
All that, however. was before the
German allies, Of their own accord,
brought forward their proposals for
discussion of peace. President Will
son specifically says in the notes he
is somewhat embarrassed in making
the suggestion at this particular time,
because 1t may now seem to have
been prompted by a desire to play
part in connection with the recent
overtures Of the central powers"
Playing the Middle
To the central powers, the presi-
dent says his action was in no way
Suggested" by the Teutonic pro-
posals, while to the entente allies
he says his note is "in no way
associated with them"
To both sets of belligerents he
says he would have delayed offering
it until those overtures had been
offered. but for the fact that 1t also
concerns the question of peace and
may thus be considered in connection
with other proposals, which have the
same end in view.
How It Was Prompted
Diplomatists consider 1t incredible
that the president would bring for
ward such proposal at such time
unless he had reason to believe ii
would receive respectful considera
ton at the hands of all the belliger
ents and above all would not preju
dice the position OF the United States
as a possible mediator.
The German embassy view, con
sistently hopeful that proposals OF
the central allies would lead to dis
cussion of peace, was expressed in
this authorized statement by Count
Bernstorff, the German ambassador
Now" said he. 81 am perfect,
convinced that there will be a con
ference"
Precedent by Roosevelt
The nearest parallel in world his
tory for President Wilson's actor
was President Roosevelt's move il
1905 to end the war between Russi
and Japan. But in that case tn
president had been assured his pre-
posal would not be disagreeable L
either of the belligerents and, curl
ously enough, it was through En-
peror William of Germany that tn
preliminary soundings crystalline
into the suggestion that Presiden
Roosevelt take the steps.
Those in official circles who woul
discuss the notes thought it worth
of attention that President Wilson
after saying his action had long bee
in mind. added:
THE president can only beg tina
his suggestions be considered Ell
tirely on it's own merits and as If
had been made in other circun
stances"
The president looks forward in tn
notes to the part the neutrals sha
take, in assuring the future peac
of the world. He expresses justifics
ton in Suggesting an immediate OF
portunity for comparison of view
as to the terms which must proceed
those ultimate arrangements for th
peace of the world, which all desir
and In which the neutral nations q
well as those at war are ready I
play their full responsible part"
The objects which the belligerent
have in mind, the president point
out, are virtually the same as state
in general terms to their people an
TO the world, but yet the concrete Of
, jects of the war have never bee
definitively stated"
After Peace Objects
Il Never yet" he says. "have tn
authoritative statesmen OF either sid
avowed the precise objects whic
would, II attained, satisfy them an
their people that the war had bee
fought out. The world has been le
to conjecture with definite result
what actual exchange OF guarantee
what political or territorial change
or readjustments. what stage of mil
tary success, even, would bring tn
war to an end
1T may be- continues the not
that peace is nearer than we know
that the terms which the belligerent
on the one side and on the otht