The Tomahawk., 1916-12-28
TEXT OF WILSON'S NOTE

|
erS:
THE President of the United States
! has instructed me to suggest to the
(here is inserted a designation OF the
government addressed) a course OF &C.
| ton with regard to the present war
| which he hopes that the government
| will take under consideration as sug-
gested in the most friendly spirit and
| as coming not only from a friend but
also as coming from the representative
of a neutral ration whose interests
have been most seriously affected by
| the war and whose concern for It's
| 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 1 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 it 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 it's 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:
"The suggestion which I am instruct
ed to make the President has long had
| it in mind to offer. He is somewhat
| embarrassed to offer it at this partic-
ular time because it may now seem to
have been prompted by the recent
overtures of the Central Powers. 1t
| is, in fact, in no way associated with
| them in it's origin and the President
would have delayed offering it until
those overtures had been 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
m,
| that his suggestion be considered en-
tirely on it's merits and as II 1t mad
| been made in other circumstances.
! Then all the notes proceed ident1-
cally as follows:
1.-THE President suggests that an
early occasion be sought to call out
from all the nations now at war such
an avowal of their respective views as
| to the terms upon which the war might
be concluded and the arrangements
which might be deemed satisfactory
as a guarantee against it's renewal or
the kindling of any similar conflict in
| the future as would make it possible
| frankly to compare them. He Is In
different as to the means taken to &C
complish this. He would be happy
himself to serve, or even to take the
| initiative in it's accomplishments in
any ways that might prove acceptable,
but he has no desire to determine the
method or the instrumentality. One
way will be as acceptable to him as
another if only the great object he
has in mind be attained.
Objects are Virtually the Same.
"He takes the liberty Of calling at
| tention to the fact that the objects
which the statemen of the belligerents
on both sides have in mind in this
war are virtually the same as stated
| in general terms to their own people
| and to the world. Each side desires
to make the rights and privileges
| of weak peoples and small states as
secure against aggression or denial
! in the future as the rights and pr1vl-
leges of the great and powerful states
| now at war.
Each wishes itself to be made Sc
| cure in the future along with all other
| nations and peoples. against the re-
currence of wars like this and against
aggression of selfish interference OF
any kind. Each would be jealous OF
| the formation of any more rival
leagues to preserve an uncertain bal
| ance of power amidst multiplying sus-
picions, but each is ready to consider
| the formation of league OF nations
to insure peace and Justice throughout
| the world.
Before the final step can be taken,
however, each deems it necessary f1rst
to settle the issues Of the present war
upon terms which will certainly safe
guard the independence, the terri
torial integrity and the political and
commercial freedom of the nations in
volved. In the measures to be taken
to secure the future peace of the world
the people and government of the
United States are as vitality and as
/ ID the Governments