Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1916-12-27
TAKES STEP WHICH
MAY BRING RESULTS
President Does Not Ask For
Mediation But VI An
Understanding
WANTS NATIONS TO KNOW
WHAT STRUGGLE Is FOR

Thinks Possibly Nations Ideas OF Set
t,emen Are Not so Far Off as They
Seem-WouId Know Minima of Ter
ritoriaI Settlements or Even OF
Military Conquest.
Washington.-The notes to the bel
ligerents are prefated 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
eminent 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 a 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 Its
early necessity to determine how best
- vi thncn intarnStS if the war
is to continue"
At this point the texts vary in the
notes to the Central Powers this para
graph follows next:
1.-THE suggestion which | am in
structed to make the president has
long had it in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer 1t 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 orr
gin and the President would have de-
layed offering it until those over
lures had been Independently answer
ed but for the fact that it also con-
Germs the question of peace n may
best be considered in connection with
other proposals which have the same
end in view. The President ear only
sey that his suggestion be considered
entirely on its own merits and as if
It 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 I am i'm
structed to make the President has
long had it 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
the recent overtures of the Central
Powers. 1t is in fact NJ way associ.
ated with them in it's origin and the
President would have delayed offering
1t until those overtures had been ans.
wered but for the fact that it also con
Germs 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 it sown merits and as if il
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 wal
might be concluded and the arrange
ments which would be deemed salts
factory as a guarantee against it's re
newal or the kindling Of any similar
conflict in the future as would make
1t possible frankly to compare them
He is Indifferent as to the means take1
to accomplish this. He would be hap
py himself to serve, or even to TAXI
the initiative in its accomplishment, il
any way that might prove acceptable
but he has no desire to determine thu
method or the instrumentality. On
way will be as acceptable to him a.
another if only the great object HI
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 thi
war are virtually tie same as statec
in general terms to their people
and to make the rights and privilege
Of weak peoples and small states a.