The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-21
In ldentc Note He Urges Warning Nations to Frankly
Avow Terms On Which They Are Willing to
Bring ConAagration to Close
DOES NOT OFFER MEDIATION, OR PROPOSE
PEACE--URGES THEM ITO COMPARE VIEWS
Points Out Hopelessness and Despairs Attending a
War Which Relies On Attrhon for Termination
All Neutrals Disturbed and Conditions for Them
Threaten to Become Intoerable

Washington, Dec 20.-President Wilson, as chief
executive Of the greatest nation which been able
to keep out of the European conagration has taken
the initiative and maintain world peace He
has directly addressed all of the beligerents In the
great struggle now convulsing Europe and every
trail nation on the subject
Independent of the peace suggestions made by the
Teutonic allies the President has called the
belIgerents to "earn how the haven of peace
they may be for which all mankind longs with an in
tense and increasing longing
He does not propose peace, neither does he offer
mediation He does however call upon the begerents
to compare views as to the terms which the war
can be ended
Secretary of State Lansing The greatest secrecy had
shrouded the action of the chief executive The
pared by him personally after comforting with his cabinet and
code Monday the United State ambassadors
and ministers throughout the world Officials here declare that
they believe that the must heed the appeal Of the
United States And it already certain that the majority if
not ALL neutra and the Vatican will join in the effort to not
only end the but make further conflicts of this stipend
character impossible Two notes. practically the
forward the entente and Teutonc allies The
to the entente with the variation of that Germany
follows:
TEXT OF NOTE
'Washington December IS, 1916
department of State,
1.-the Secretary of State Ambassadors W. H. Page q.
W. Gerard)
"The President directs send you the following
municaon to be presented Immediately to the minister Of
foreign affairs of the to which accredited:
Ihe President of the United States has instructed to
suggest to His Majestys government he Imperial German
governmen of action with regard to the present
which he hopes that the British he Imperial
govenmen will take under consideration suggested in
the most friendly spirit and coming only from FRIEND
but also coming from the representative of neutral nation
whose interests have been seriously affected by war;
and whose for its early conclusion arises of mani
fest desire how best to safeguard those interests If the
continue.
1.-the suggestion which instructed to make the Presi
dent has long had mind to offer. He is somewhat
barrassed to offer at this particular time because
to have been prompted by the overure of the
central powers I'm the German note desire to play part
connection with the recent note of the central powers
Not Associated With Overtures.
I is in fact in associated with them in it's origin
and the President would have delayed offering until those
overtures had been answered Tin the German note 1T has,
fact been suggested by them in its origin and the
President would have delayed offering until those
had been Independently answered but for the fact that
also the question of and best be considered
in connection with other proposals. which have the end
sidered entirely its merits and if had been made
in other circumstances sAS
The President suggests that early occasion be sought
to call out from all the nations such avowa Of
their respective views the terms upon which the
might be concluded and the arrangements which would be
deemed satisfactory guaranty against its renewal the
kndng of similar conflict in the future would make il
possible frankly them He is Indifferent the
taken to accomplish this He would be happy himself
to take the initiative in its accomplishment
that might prove acceptable but he has desire
to determine the method the nstrumentaty One
be acceptable him another if only the great object
has in mind be attained.
All Seek Same Object sSa
"He takes the liberty Of calling attention to the fAct