New Britain herald., 1916-12-21
Appeal to Discuss Terms.

In formal notes to the belligerents, President Wilson, without proposing peace or offering mediation, has ap- pealed to them to discuss terms which may end the war.
 His notes had been virtually forty eight hours on their way today and officials believed they had reached all the capitals. Although all Washing ton is listening with the keenest ex- pectation to any indications of how the notes will be received. diploma lists think 1t is incredible that Presi- dent Wilson should have taken his action without some belief that it would not be flatly rejected without consideration by the Entente allies.
 ,o The wish ana hope of the German allies that he tlke some such step had long been we'll known and there is no doubt of the manner of it's re- ception among them.
 Officials and diplomats here analyz- ing the note, find something deeper than an appeal for consideration of peace terms. They see that the pres ident, in acting. was also considering what would have to be the course of the United States to conserve it's in terests as a neural if the war is to continue.
 Must Safeguard Own Interests.
 Coupled with the presidents recent declaration that the position of neu- trals was becoming intolerable, they attach much significance to his state ment in the note that his suggestion comes from @ neutral whose interests have been most seriously affected by the war, "and whose concern for it's early conclusion arises out of 2 mani- fest necessity to determine how best to safeguard those interests if the war is to continue"
 Tn German quarters the conviction that the presidents action would surely lead to some sort of a consid- eration of peace terms was express ed in the following authorized state ment by Count Won Bernstorff. the German ambassador: ''Now am @ conference"
 Despite the fact that President Will sons notes state specifically and un- reservedly that he 'is not proposing peace, is not even offering mediation" they are regarded here as of such a nature as will compel all the bellig- erents to make more of reply than a mere acknowledgement of receipt.
 British Embassy Taken Back.
 British embassy officials made no attempt to conceal their surprise at the presidents action. They were not alone, however, for all Ge official Washington has been led by officials to believe that the president in trans hitting the German peace proposals ,+ prt tnls all acion that was to be expected from the United Sates for some time to come unless there was some unfor- seen developments in world affairs. The secrecy with which the prepara- tion of the notes and their dispatch were surrounded was complete ana nothing was known about them 1nltll they were we'll on their way to the belligerent capitals.
 The definite proposal of the tnlted States for "a league of nations to m- sure peace and justice throughout the world" Is interpreted as step when, if carried through, would mean the abandonment of the theory or splendid isolation" which Washing ton bequeathed to the country.
 insure" Not "Enforcc" Peace.
 Significance is attached to the fact that the president uses the word in sure' rather than "enforce" as lndl- eating that he has not committed himself to any one program to ac- complish that end but that he is open ! to whatever suggestions may seem best to the other world nations.
 Repeated efforts have been made to enlist the American government Tn | some sort of international agreement involving responsibility but always the answer has been that the United | Stntas would stand alone. Several l