The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-12-30
PRESIDENT MAKES
APPEAL FOR PEACE
Sends Note to All BelIigerents
Asking That the Terms be
Discussed.
4 SURPRISE TO DIPLOMATS
Administrators Action Entirely Con-
trary to Previous Reports-Pro-
poses That soundings Be Taken.

Washington, Dec. 21.-President
Wilson has appealed to all the belli-
gerents to discuss terms of peace.
Without actually proposing peace
or offering mediation, the President
has sent formal notes to the govern
ments of all the warning nations sug-
costing that IAN early occasion be
sought to call out from the nations
now at war such an avowaI of their
respective views as to the terms upon
which the war might be concluded
and the arrangements which would be
deemed satisfactory as guaranty
against its renewal or the kindling of
any similar conflict in the future, as
would make it possible frankly to
compare them
Wholly without notice and entirely
contrary to what administration Of
ficials have described as his course,
the President last night dispatched
the, notes to all the beIligerents, and
to all the neutrals for their informa-
ton.
Not Peace Proposal.
Summarized in the Presidents own
words, as contained in the notes, his
attitude is as follows:
The President is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering medi-
alton. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerent, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all man
Lind int nd in
creasing longing" He believes that
the spirit in which he speaks and the
objects which he seeks will be under
stood by all concerned and he con-
fidently hopes for a response which
will bring a new light into the affairs
of the world"
A Distinct Surprise.
This latest development in the rap
idly moving world events toward a
discussion of peace was not permitted
to become known until tonight, when
the notes were well on their way to
the American ambassadors in the
belligerent capitals, and probably al
ready in the hands of some of them.
1t was a most distinct surprise to
all official Washington, which had
been led to believe that with the for
NAL transmittal Of the proposals Of
the Central Powers the officers of the
United States would await further
moves between the beIligerents them
selves and that certainly in view of
the speech of Premier Lloyd-George
and the announcements in Russia,
France and Italy further action by
neutrals would depend upon the next
careful and delicate moves of the bel
ligerents.
Believe Peace Is Brought Nearer.
The whole tenor of official opinion
throughout Washington, when the
Presidents action became known,
was that it immeasurably improved
the prospects for some sort of ex-
changes looking toward an approach
to peace discussion between the bel1i-
gerents, without impairing the posi-
ton of the United States should they
finally be unable to find a ground on
which to approach one another.
Want Definite Peace Terms.
London, Dec. 20.-Great Britain and
her allies will refuse to enter into
peace negotiations with the Central
Powers until the Central Powers an
nounce the terms upon which they are
ready to treat.
The Allies will refuse to consider
these proposals unless they meet the
objects for which the Entente Powers
are striving.
Must Be PREPARATION.
In making this announcement in the
House of Commons this afternoon
Premier Lloyd-George said that a for
nal note responding in this way to the
German peace proposals, would, In a
few days, be completed, and given to
the American embassy for transmits
sion to Berlin.
Without reparation to the Allies, the
premier said, peace was impossible
Discussion OF any proposals other than
those which met fully the allied terms
was useless, he said. One Of these
terms is the absolute elimination OF
Prussian militarism.
Germany's Offer a Trap.
The Imperial German Chancellor
Bethmann-Holweg did not use a single
phrase indicating he was prepared to
| accept the only terms upon which
peace is the absolute elimination OF
Prussian militarism.
Anyone who wantonly prolongs this
German Loss on Somme Big.