The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-29
Sends Note Suggesting Opportunity for
Comparison of Views to End War
Would Have Precise Objects of War Set
Forth--Says Concrete Purposes for
Which War is Being Waged
Have Never Been Def
nitely Understood

gether justified in suggesting an im-
mediate opportunity for comparison
of views as to the terms which must
precede those ultimate arrangements
for the peace of the world which all
desire and in which the neutral ma
tions as we'll as those at war are
ready to play their full responsible
part.
"If the contest must continue to
proceed toward indefinite ends by
slow attrition until the one group OF
belligerents or the other is exhausted,
if million after million of human lives
must continue to be offered until on
the one side or the other there are no
more to offer, if resentmcnts must be
kindled that never can cool and de-
spairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
and the willing concert of free peo-
pies will be rendered vain and idle.
1.-THE life of the entire world has
been profoundly effected. Every part
of the great family of mankind has
felt the burden and terror of this I'M
precedented contest Of arms.
Wars Object Still Unstated.
"No nation in thecivilized world
can be said in truth to stand outside
it's influence or to be safe against its
disturbing effects. And yet the con-
crete objects for which it is being
waged never have been definitely
stated.
"The leaders of the several bellig-
erents, have, as has been said, stated
those objects in general terms. But
stated in general terms, they seem the
, same on both sides. Never yet have
: the authoritative spokesman of eithel
| side avowed the precise objects which
l would, if attained, satisfy them anc
5 their people that the war had beer
fougth out. The world has been lef
to conjecture what definite results
what actual exchange of guarantees
! what political and territorial change
a or readiustments, what stage Of mil
! itary success ever would bring the wa
: to an end.
Il Nearer Than We Know.
= at may be that peace is nearer tina
:, we know; that the terms which tn
belligerents on the one side and U
: the other would deem 1t necessary t
insist upon are not SO irreconcilable a
= some have feared; that an interchang
= of views would clear the way a
least for conference and make tn
: permanent concord of the nations
y hope of the immediate future, a cor
= cert of nations Immediately practics
y bic.
g "The President is not proposin
Al peace; he is not even offering media
l. ton. He is merely proposing this
soundings be taken in order that "
may learn, the neutral nations wit
= the belligerents, how near the have
ID of peace may be for which all maj
Ne kind longs with an intense increasin
IS longing. He believes the spirit
T. which he speaks and the objec'
s, which he seeks will be understood b
ID all concerned, and he confidently hop'
sr for response which will bring
Of new light into the affairs of IL
I'd world"
Or The note to the Entente group w
be delivered to Great Britain, Franc
r, Italy, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Mon
Mt enegro, Portugal, Roumania and Sc
n, bia. That to the Central Allies W
at be delivered to Germany, Austri
st Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.
On It is being delivered to all neutr
re Governments for their information.