Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
WILSON RELYING ON
NEUTRALS To ASSIST
/. HIM IN PEACE MOVE
President Feels All Other Ma
tons Not at War Are Also
vitality Interested in the Out
come
(By Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-In formal
notes to all the belligerents President
Wilson. without proposing peace or Of
fering mediation, has appealed to them
to discuss terms which may end che
war.
The presidents notes had been prac-
tically forty-eight hours on their way
today and officials believed they had
reached all the foreign capitals. Al
though all official Washington is listen
ing with the keenest expectations to any
indications of how the notes will be re-
ceived. diplomatists think it is incredi-
BILE that President Wilson should have
taken this action without some belief
that it would not be fatty rejected with
out consideration by the entente allies.
The wish and hope of the German al
lies that he take some such step had
long been wei! known and there is no
doubt of the manner of its reception
among them.
Officials and diplomatists here, an
alyzing the presidents note, find some
thing deeper than an appeal for con-
sideration of peace terms. They sea
that the president in acting, was also
considering what would have to ,be the
course of the United States to conserve
It's interests as a neutral If the war
is to continue.
Coupled with the presidents recent
declaration that the position Of neutrals
was becoming intolerable, they attach
much significance to his statement in
| the note that his suggestion comes from
| a neutral whose interests has been most
| seriously affected by the war land
whose concern for its early conclusion
arises out of a manifest necessity to de-
termine how best to safeguard those in
terests If the war is to continue"
VIEW OF GERMANS.
In German quarters the conviction
that the presidents action would surely,
lead to some sort of a consideration of
! peace terms was expressed in the fol-
lowing authorized statement by Count
Won Bernstorff, the German ambassador:
Now 1 am perfectly convinced that
there will be conference"
Despite the fact that President VIII
sons notes states specifically and un-
reservedly that he, SIS not proposing
peace; he is not even offering MEDIA
tion," they are regarded here as Of such
nature as will compel all Of the bel
ligerents to make more of reply than
a mere acknowledgement of receipt.
British embassy officials made no at
| tempt to conceal their surprise at The
presidents action. They were not alone,
however, for all official washington had
been led by officials to believe that the
| president, in transmitting the German
peace proposals without comment, had
taken all the action that was to be ex-
pected from the United States for some
time to come unless there was some I'M
foreseen development in world affairs.
The secrecy with which the prepara-
ton of the notes and the dispatch were
| surrounded was complete and nothing
was known about them until they were
we'll on their way to the belligerent cap
itals.
RELIES ON NEUTRALS.
President Wilson is relying upon pub
lie opinion in other neutral nations to
add force to his efforts to clarity the
situation. While the American govern
ment acted entirely on it's own respon-
sibility, President Wilson feels other
neutral nations, for economic reasons,
are vitality interested in the outcome.
1t was stated authoritatively today
that the president acted without any as
surances that his move would be favor
ably received by the entent allies. He
takes the position, 1t was said, however,
that his note calls for replies and that
even though unfavorable, the responses
would tend to make clear the objects
of the belligerents and establish some
common ground.
There was every indication that Presi-
dent Wilson is hopeful of the outlook
and believes the way has been opened
for negotiations. What steps he takes
in the future depends entirely upon
the nature Of the responses from the
belligerents.
The president already has made clear
haf xuhf hn
has no interest in the terms on which
peace is made between the -belligerents
themselves, it has a very profound in
trest in bringing about an agreement:
for maintaining peace in the future.
NEAREST PARALLEL.
The nearest parallel in world history
for President Wilson's action was Presi-
dent Roosevelt's move in 1905 to end
the war between Russia and Japan. But
in that case the president had been as
sured that his proposal would not be-
disagreeable to either Of the belliger-
ents and curiously enough it wasl
through Emperor William of Germany
that the preliminary soundings crystal-i
lied into the suggestion that President
Roosevelt take the steps. Before that
time President Roosevelt had conferred
with the Russian and Japanese diplo-t
mats here. the American ambassador to
foreign minister and the American min
lister to Japan had conferred with the,
Japanese foreign minister.
Those in official circles who would
discuss the notes thought it ycrthy
of attention that the president after
saying his action had long been in
mind. added:
The president can only beg that his
suggestion be considered entirely on its
in other circumstances"
The president looks forward in the
notes to the part the neutrals shall
take in assuring the future peace Of
the world. He expresses justification
in Suggesting an immediate opportun-
ity for a comparison Of views as to the
terms which must precede those ulti-
mate arrangements for the peace of
(Cont1nued on Page q, Column d