River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-12-28
ALLIES NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE
EXTENDED ANSWER TO PRO-
POSALS RECEIVED FROM
CENTRAL POWE..S.
TO DISCUSS WHOLE PEACE
SUBJECT IN REPLY TO U. S.
Secretary Lansing's TWO Statements,
Which Caused FURRY After Viii
sons Note Was Dispatched, Are
CabIed Abroad So AS To En-
phasize Presidents Attitude.

Washington, Dec. 26.-Nothing Of
fetal has come from Europe to show
when the belligerents will reply to
President Wilson's note urging dis
cussion Of peace. or what the nature
of the responses may be. The Lo1l-
don news dispatches indicating an
early reply was unlikely because of
the necessity Of consultation between
the Allies agreed with the view pre-
vailing here.
1t is thought here that the Allies
might not make extended answer to
the proposals of the Central powers,
but would deal with the whole peace
subject in their response to the Unit
ed States.
Apparently the administration, hav-
ing dispatched the note and in the in
terest of caution having taken steps
to see that no misconstruction abroad
was placed on the Presidents purpose,
now is carefully watching the express
sions of opinion, particularly in the
British press.
Hostile Views Moderated.
AS the attitude Of the Teutonic AL
lies had been clearly foreshadowed in
advance and the President, in the note,
specifically disclaimed any associa-
ton with that attitude, the interest Of
American officials centered on the re-
ception of the note in the Allied coun-
tries and among the European neu-
trails.
1t was recalled, as the London dis
patches, most of them hostile, arrived,
that similar expressions greeted the
original proposals of the Central Al
hes, but that the views were moderat-
ed in the British press and among the
Allied diplomats here after reflection
and discussion.
Lansing's Statements Cabled.
To preclude any possibility of mis-
construction of the Presidents pur-
poses from the furry of Thursday
caused by Secretary Lansing's two
statements, both were cabled to Amer
lean diplomats abroad in neutral, as
well as belligerent countries, so they
might be prepared to state correctly
the Presidents attitude toward the
governments to which they are accred-
tied. They are intended to offer Of
fetal evidence, if it be needed, that
the Presidents note is exactly what
it purports to be on it's face.
The suggestion from London that
the manner of replying to the Presi-
dents note will differ from the form
of replies to proposals of the German
Allies correspondent with official ex-
pectationS.
Relations With Germany Improved.
The German view here is that what
ever the reply of the Allies the rela-
tons between Germany and the Unit
ed States will have been UNNECESSARILY
improved, probably to the point of as
surfing careful steps by the Berlin gov
eminent to avoid any such conditions
as lead up to crisis which threat
ened a break in diplomatic relations
That view which holds the advantage
of comfy with the greatest of neutrals
will be SO forcibly impressed upon the
people of the Central empires that it
will not again be endangered.
Note Accepted in Good Faith.
Allied diplomats, while they appar.
emily had decided to accept the Presi-
dents attitude in good faith had not
wholly disposed of their fear that it
might rebound to the advantage of
their enemies. 1t was reiterated in all
official quarters that there is perfect
understanding between Secretary Ian
sing and the President and whatever
might have appeared as discord in in
depreciation of the note to the bellig-
erents had been disposed of by the
issue of the Secretary's second state
ment and the steps to inform the for