Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-21

such a propocal at such time unless he had reason to believe it would re-
 ceive respectful consideration at the
 hands of all the belligerents, and,
 above all, would not prejudice the po-
 sition of the United States as a pos 5ible mediator.
 Bernstorff Sure of Conference. The German embassy view, consist
 ently hopeful that proposals of the central allies would lead to a discus sion of peace, was expressed in this
 authorized statement by Count Bern
 storff, the German ambassador: NOW" he said, T am perfectly con- vinced that there will be a confer ences''
 Nearest Parallel in 1905.
 The nearest parallel in world his
 tory for President Wilson's action was
 President Roosevelts move in 1905 to
 end the war between Russia and Japan. But in that case the president
 had been assured his proposal would not be disagreeable to either of the
 belhgerents. and, euriousfty enough, 1t
 was through Emperor Wsidiam of Ger
 many that the preliminaMy soundillgs
 crystall1zed into the suggestion that President Roosevelt take the steps, J Before that time President Roosevelt had conferred with Count Cassini, +ac Russian amba aSsador here and win
 MT. Takahira, the Japanese ampassa- dor In the Russian capital the Amer l lcan ambassador, George Won L. Meyer, had conversations with Count Lanas- dorf, the Russian minister for foreign | affairs
 In Tokio American Minister Gri scor | had conversations with Count Konlura. the Japanese minister for foreign af- | fairs.4 The outcome of all these pre- l l1minaries was that President Roose- | welt was assured that he would not be l humiliated by a rejection of his ac- 1 ton.
 Those in official circles who would discuss the notes thought it worthy of attention that President Wilson after saying his action had long been in mind, said:
 ''The president can only beg that his suggestion be considered entirely
 on its own merits and as if it had
 been made in other circumstances The president looks forward in the notes to the part the neutrals shall
 take in assuring the future peace of the world. He expresses Justification
 in suggesting an immediate opLcr- tunlty for a comparison of views a,; to the terms which must precede those ultimate arrangements for the peace
 of the world, which all desire, and in which the neutral nations as welt as those at war are ready to play their
 full responsible part"
 Germany Believed to Be WiIIino, So far as Germany is concerned. the view held here is that she would he | perIectly Willing that a committee Of
 three, formed of representative If
 the central powers, representative of
 the entente and representati fe of the united States, should hold pre- l Ilmlnary discussions. The main idea | or Germany and her allies is to eet
 each set of belligerents into direct
 persona personal m communication with the
 other. The method is considered of | secondary importance.
 | The view prevails in German orar-
 ters that all the belligererits will ncalxe 1 some definite statement in reply to inc 1 United States. The very phrase ,;oev
 or the American communication, 1t is | 1elt, cdls TOT replies far more definite
 than mere acknowledgements of re- | ceipt. Count Won Bernstorff may di.cnss | the. situation with Secretary Lansing | tomorrow. 1 Notes to the BeIlieerents,
 The notes to the belligerents are pre- i laced with this instruction by Secre-
 tary Lansing to the American ambas- | sadors presenting them:
 'The president directs me to send | you the following communication to De presented immediately to the min l lster Of foreign affairs of the govern
 ment to which you are accredited." | IAc tSAIS or the notes themselves | then Begin identically as follows: | The President of the United States
 has instructed me to suggest to the l (here is inserted designation of the government address) course of ac-
 tion 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 friend but
 also as coming from the representa- | tive of neutral nation whose inter ! ests have been most serious affected | by the war and whose concern for its
 early conclusion arises out of a mani
 fest necessity to determine how best
 to safeguard those interests If the war l is to continue"
 1 At this point the texts vary. In the
 notes to the central powers this para | graph follows next:
 To the Central Powers. "The suggestion which am in-
 structed to make the president has ] (continued on Page Ten)