The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-26
Official Note from Federal
Council at Berne Sup
ports President
PROJECT TO PRESERVE
PEACE OF THE WORLD
Will Help in No Matter
How Modest a
Way

Washington, Dec. 26.-Secretary OF
State Lansing last night made public the
text of an official communication from
the Swiss government pledging itself to
support the efforts OF President Wilson
to sound the nations of the world, and
particularly the belligerents, with re-
spect to the ending Of the present war,
and gathering against such catastro-
Plies in the future. II shows that the
Swiss government has been in touch with
President Wilson concerning his desire TO
bring peace.
The translation of the note made pub
lie last night shows that it was addressed
bv the Swiss federal council, under date
Of saturday, to all belligerents and neu-
trails. and that the Swiss government
will consider itself happy il it can act in
any way. no matter how modest the way,
for the reapproachment of the people
now engaged in the struggle for last
ing peace. 1t is the first formal response
made by any foreign government to the
note recently forwarded by Secretary
Lansing. under instructions from Presl-
dent Wilson, to all belligerents and neu-
! trails
In diplomatic and official circles il is
regarded a the forerunner of a series OF
notes from neutrals approving and sup
porting the steps taken by the president
/ in the direction of better understand
/ ing between the nations. The Scandi-
I IJnilapI and Snalu and
Latin American nations are expected to
make responses in which it Is confidently
/ believed in official circles here that they
viii adopt as favorable an attitude as
, has Switzerland.
/ The Swiss federal council, from which
this note emanated is the body TO which
| the chief executive authority in Switzer-
| land Is delegated and consists OF seven
members. elected for three years by the
Swiss federal assembly. The members
of this council must not hold any other
office in the confederation or cantons OF
! Switzerland nor engage in any calling or
business. 1t is only through this exeeu-
tive body that legislative measures are
introduced in the delberative councils.
The seven members OF the federal coun-
ell act as ministers, or chiefs OF the sew
en- administrative departments OF the re-
public of Switzerland the departments
of foreign affairs, interior, justice war,
! finance. agriculture and posts.
The belief which has been strong in
certain quarters that before sending his
peace note President, Wilson was in pos
session of important confidential infor-
nation and had been in touch with va
| THROUGH pOntl l.
Dental reports made by our ambassadors
and ministers appears to receive some
confederation from phrase contained in
the officially announced translation OF
the note from the Swiss federal council.
At the very outset this note says; 1.-THE
president of the United States
with whom the Swiss federal council
has for a considerable time been
in touch" This il the first official init
nation that the president has been in
touch with the Swiss federal council, or
that he had been in touch with that
council for ga considerable time"
Another significant feature of the
Swiss note is that it emphasizes and
gives prominence to what it regards as
that portion of President Wilson's note
in which he discusses the great desir-
ability of international agreements for
the purpose of avoiding more effectively
and permanently the occurrence OF ca
tastrophes such as the one under which
the peoples are suffering to-day"
This appears to be interpreted by the
Swiss council as the outstanding feature
of the presidents note, some sort of in
ternational agreement to avoid the recur-
renee of wars like the present, and in his
discussion of the desirability of "such in
ternational agreements" the Swiss conn
ell interprets his note as laying particu-
lar stress on the necessity for bringing
the present war to an end.
The Swiss councils note is accepted a.
meaning that the Swiss government, in
it's modest way. would be willing to sup
port any effort by the President in the
direction both OF peace and of interna
tional agreements having for their pur.
pose the prevention of the recurrence OF
great international wars.