Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-12-28

Washington. notes to the bel
lgerents are prefaCed with this in
struction by Secretary Lansing to the
American ambassadors presenting
them:
The president directs me to send
you the following communication to
be presented Immediately to the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs OF the Gov
ernment to which you are accredited"
The text of the notes themselves
then begin identically as follows:
The President OF the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
(here is inserted Il designation OF the
Government addressed) a course OF
action with regard to the present war
which he hopes that the Government
will take under consideration as sug-
gested in the most friendly spirit and
as coming not only from a friend. but
also as coming from the representative
OF a neutral nation whose interests
have been most seriously affected by
the war and whose concern for it's
early necessity to determine how best
TO safeguard those interests if the war
is to continue"
At this poi:lt the texts vary in the
notes to the Central Powers this para
graph follows next:
"The suggestion which | am in
structed to make the president has
long had il in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer it at
this particular time because it may
now seem to have been prompted by
a desire to play a part in connection
with the recent overtures of the Cen
trail Powers. 1t has in fact been in
no way suggested by them in its ori-
gin and the President would have de-
layed offering ii until those over
lures had been independently answer
ed but for the fact that ii also con-
Germs the question OF peace and may
best be considered in connection with
other proposals which have the same
end in view. The President can only
sey that his suggestion he considered
entirely on its own merits and as il
II had been made in other circum-
stances"
In the note to the Entente Allies
the following paragraph takes the
place OF the one just quoted:
1.-The suggestion which am i'm
structed TO make the President has
long had 1t in mind to offer He Is
somewhat embarrassed to offer 1t at
this particular time because II may
now seem TO have been prompted by
the recent overtures OF the Central
Powers. II is in fact no way associ-
ated with them in it's origin and the
President would have delayed Offering
It until those overtures had been ans
wered but for the fact that it also con-
cerus the question OF peace and may
be best considered in connection with
other proposals which have the same
end in view. The President can only
beg that his suggestion be considered
entirely on 1t sown merits and as II 1t
had been made in other circum.
stances"
Then all the notes proceed identi-
cally as follows:
May Take Initiative.
The President suggests that an
early occasion be sought to call out
from all the nations now at war such
an avowal OF their respective views as
TO the terms upon which the war
might he concluded and the arrange.
ments which would be deemed salts
factory as a guarantee against its re.
newal or the kindling OF any similar
conflict in the future as would make
II possible frankly to compare them
He is Indifferent as to the means taken
to accomplish this. He would be hap.
py himself to serve. or even to take
the initiative I'm It's accomplishment, in
any way that might prove acceptable
but he has no desire to determine the
method or the instrumentality. One
way will be as acceptable to him as
another IL only the great object he
has in mind be attained.
He takes the liberty OF calling at
,tention to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen OF the belliger
ents on both sides have in mind in this
war are virtually the same as stated
In general terms to their own people
and to make the rights and privileges
of weak peoples and small states as