New Britain herald., 1916-12-22
AMERICA SEEN AS CLEARING HOUSE FOR IDEAS ON PEACE
Other Neutrals Expected to
 Cooperate to Drive War Out of Europe - Note Reaches Paris and Berlin.

Washington, Dec. 22.-With the purposes of President Wilson's note to belligerents clarified by official statements on the subject, the atten- tion of the United States has turned to the reception of the note in the foreign capitals. Diplomats here are eagerly watching for indications of whether the European neutrals will follow the lead of the United States and make a similar appeal to the warning powers.
 There is growing feeling that the United States hopes to become the clearing house for views and possibly for terms of the belligerents. SeT- eral of the departments have advised their governments to that effect in order to guide them in their replies. Surprise at the fast-growing signifi- canoe of the presidents move was expected on all sides, where it was pointed out that at first the opin- ion prevailed that the note itself was merely a "feeler" and that the ut most immediately contemplated in issuing 1t was the receipt of some sort of definition from the various warning nations. That the president should let it be known indirectly to the diplomats for their guidance, that he went even further than that and counted on an absolure1y frank reply from the belligerents which would lead to an actual opportunity for ne- gotlations, proved only less surprising than the note itself
 This feeling was increased by Sec retary Lansing's audience statement yesterday that no soundings had been taken of the attitude of the belliger- ents addressed and that the note had been sent entirely regardless of the Central powers proposals or of the reply of Lloyd George.
 Will Others Cooperate.
 The question much to the fore to- day was whether the European neu- trals would present 8 united appeal. The Spanish and Swiss representatives here have both been to the state de- partment repeatedly since those pro- posals came out and probably know fully the plans of this government.
 It is pointed out that the European neutrals have suffered beyond any other nations not actually involved in the war and that peace is more essen t1al to them than to any but the ac- tual be1ligerents. In addition they have none of the bitterness of alarm and are more anxious for the coming Of peace than for the accomplishment of any other purpose. Nevertheless, their geographical position between the two contending forces has been that Up to now they have been able to I~ r. trality without mixing in the strug- gle even to suggesting peace. Part of this danger is, however, thought re- moved by the American action.
 Gradual clarification among the Entente diplomats here of the presi- dents purpose and belief that they will advise their governments to re- ply in a friendly spirit proved a source of deep gratification today, as it was pointed out both in the note itself and in Secretary Lansings message that one of the dangers was that the Allies would consider the step as a pro- German move. Every effort was made to remove this impression and to have the note considered entirely apart from any other events. The En- tente diplomats, at first very fearful, have now accepted this view
 Note Reaches Berlin.
 Charge Grew reported to the state today that the presidents note had been received in Berlin.
 Early London press comment that the note was painful because, it said, the objects of the belligerents were the same, was not uneXpect- | cd here, where attention already had been drawn to the fact that President | Wilson specifically declared that the published views of the opposing states l men left that impression.
 It is stated officially that the presl- 1
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