The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-12-29
Text of Wilson's
Note to Warning
European Rulers

the Dell1gerents are prefaced with tn
instruction by Secretary Lansing
the American ambassador presentin
them: The President directs me
send you the following communicate
to be presented Immediately to tn
minister of foreign affairs of the gov
eminent to which you are accredited.
The texts of the notes themselve
begin identically as follows:
Suggests Course of Action.
/ "The President of the United State
has instructed me to suggest to tn
| (here Is inserted designation OF tn
| government addressed) a course OF &C
! ton with regard to the present wa
which he hopes that the government
will take under consideration as sug
| gested in the most friendly spirit ant
as coming not only from a friend bu
also as coming from the representative
/ of a neutral ration whose interests
have been most seriously affected by
the war and whose concern for its
early conclusion arises out of mani
fest necessity to determine how best
to safeguard those interests II the
war is to continue"
Notes to Central Powers.
At this point the texts vary. In
the notes to the Central Powers this
paragraph follows next:
''The suggestion which am instruct
ed to make the President has long
had it in mind to offer. He is some
what embarrassed to offer it at this
particular time because it may now
seem to have been prompted by de-
sire to play a part in connection with
the recent overtures of the Central
Powers. 1t has, in fact, been in no
way suggested by them in its origin
and the President would have delayed
offering 1t until those overtures had
been independently answered but for
the fact that it also concerns the
question of peace and may best be
considered in connection with other
proposals which have the same end in
view. The President can only beg
that his suggestion be considered en-
tirely on its own merits, and as if it
had been made in other circum-
stances"
Paragraph for Allies Only.
In the note to the Allies the follow
ing paragraph takes the place of the
one just quoted:
1.-THE suggestion which am instruct
ed to make the President has long had
it in mind to offer. He is somewhat
to offer it at this partic-
ular time because 1t may now seem to
have been prompted by the recent |
is, in fact, in no way associated with |
them in its origin and the President |
would have delayed offering it until |
those overtures had been answered |
but fsr the fact that it also concerns |
The question Of peade and may best /
% considered in connection with other
proposals which have the same end
hat his suggestion be considered en-
rely on its merits and as If it had
,een made in other circumstances;
Asks All Nations for Views.
Then all the notes proceed ddent1-
ally as follows:
uc II6blucAL Su6SSotS IudI al
arly occasion be sought to call out
rom all the nations now at war such
n avowal of their respective views as
0 the terms upon which the war might
e concluded and the arrangements
7hich might be deemed satisfactory
8 a guarantee against its renewal or
be kindling of any similar conflict In :
be future as would make 1t possible :
rankly to compare them. He is in !
ifferent as to the means taken to &C s
omplish this. He would be happy {
imself to serve, or even to take the
Initiative in its accomplishments in
ny ways that might prove acceptable, '
ut he has no desire to determine the |
lethod or the fundamentally. One
ay will be as acceptable to him as 4
mother II only the great object he a
as in mind be attained. c
Objects are Virtually the Same.
HE takes the liberty of calling at P
ntion to the fact that the objects b
hich the statemen of the belligerents c
/ both sides have In mind. in this b
ar are virtually the same as stated
general terms to their own people
i'd to the world. Each side desires Il
make the rights and privileges s.
weak peoples and small states as n
cure against aggression or denial b
the future as the rights andSprivi- p
ges of the great and powerful states K
w at war. Il
Each wishes itself to be made Sc
re In the future along with all other
lions and peoples, against the re- n
rrence of wars like this and against 81
gression Of selfish interference Of c.
y kind. Each would be jealous Of n
Q formation Of any more rival u
lgues to preserve m uncertain bal
CO OF power amidst multiplying sus- d
ions, but each Is ready to consider It
) formation of league Of nations te
insure peace and justice throughout VI
J world. d.
Before the final step can be taken, TT
wever, each deems it necessary first
settle the issues OF the present war gt