Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-21
SENDS FORMAL NOTES TO
ALL WARNING NATIONS
Suggests That Early Occasion Be Sought Call Out From the
Avowa Their Respective Views the
Upon Which the War Nigh Be Concluded and the Arrange
Which Would Be Deemed Satisfactory Guaranty Against
Similar Conflict Would Make Possible Comparison.

first only Qualification of terms, Is
taken as indicating that he is not ex.
pecting an immediate conclusion. In
d war involving SO many conflicting in
terests, not only between the two bel
ligerent groups but even between ma
tions Of the same group, 1t is realized
that much time may be needed even
to bring about the mere preliminaries
Of a conference. 1t Is desired, there
fore, to clear away as many Of those
preliminaries as possible SO that when
solution is near, either by victory Or
exhaustion, not day OF needless
slaughter may be necessary
Just when the note was finished
has not been disclosed. but II is known
that it went to the cables yesterday
On Monday the higher officials Of tho
state department were taken into the
presidents confidence and the text
was sent to the public printer to make
copies for the diplomatic corps. The
fact that the note was completed not
later than Monday and It's dispatch
Tuesday indicate that 1t was sent re-
gardless of anything that Lloyd George
might say.
k Officials expect the note to be re-
ceived with general favor in Germany.
but many believe the real test will
come with its arrival in the entente
countries, where many influential per-
sons have feared and sought to pre-
vent any American Intervention until
the military situation changed From
the fact, however, that Lloyd George g
reply to the central powers was milder
than generally had been expected and
still left the way open for further ne.
gotiations, 1t is believed that the allies
will meet the present note In at least
a friendly spirit.
While German officials thoroughly
understood that President Wilson
made it clear that he was not in any
sense offering mediation to the war
ring governments. 1t was declared
that should the negotiations reach
I that stage Germany. being anxious tG
have the peace OF Europe restored
willingly would agree to such pro
cedure. Neither does it make any diff
ference to Germany, 1t was said
whether the conference Is composed
of representatives of all the belliger
ents or just the coalitions.
So far as Germany Is concerned the
view held here Is that she would DC
perfectly willing that a committee ol
three, formed of representative Ol
the central powers, a representative
of the entente and representative
of the United States should hold pre-
liminary discussions. The main idea
of Germany and her allies is to ge
each set of belligerents into direc
personal communication with thu
other. The method is considered O
secondary Importance.
The view prevails in German quart
ers that all the belligerents will max,
some definite statement in reply tt
the United States. The very pharse
ology Of the American communica
tion, 1t is felt, calls for replies fa
more definite than mere acknaWledg
ments of receipt.
Count Won Bernstorff may discuss
, the situation with secretary Landsinl
some time tomorrow
The notes to the belligerents ar
!; j, prefaeed with the instruction of Set
retary Lansing to the American an
bassadors presenting them:
1.-THE president directs me to sen
you the following communication I
be presented Immediately to the mil
!, lister of foreign affairs of the govern
ment to which you are accredited"
:, The texts of the notes themselve
), then begin, identically as follows:
= "The president of the United State
, has instructed me to suggest to tn
. there is inserted designation of TIL
! government addressed), course I
: action with regard to the present wa
which he hopes that the goyernmei
>. will take under consideration as SUI
! gested in the most friendly spirit an
I as coming not only from a friend, bl
I also as coming from the represent
! tive of neutral nation whose inte
!" ests have been most seriously affecte
by the war and whose concern for Il
early conclusion arises out Of man
D. fest necessity to determine how be-
t. to safeguard those interests If the WI
is to continue
4 At this point the texts vary. In tt
notes to the central powers this par
y graph follows next:
If 1.-THE suggestion which am 4
II structed to make the president hs
long had it in mind to offer. He
" SOIlc "udC tlIUdl dSoCu W olloi ~
r this particular time because it ma
now seem to have been prompted
of desire to play part In connectie
with the recent oyertures of the ce
S. tral powers. It has, in fact, been
no way suggested by them in its OF
gin and the president would have d
O. layed offering it until those oyertur'
had been independently answered, b.
in for the fact that it also concerns Il
H. question of peace. and may best
considered in connection with 9th
le proposals which have the same end
view The president can only b'
cy that his suggestion be considered e
tirely on its own merits, and as If
or had been made in other circul
st stances"
In the note to the entente allies Il
on --=---7--==z-