The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-29
WILSON DEMANDS
NATIONS At WAR
:. TELL What THEY
ARE FIGHTING FOR
Asks All Definitely TO State on
What Terms They Will Make
) Lasting Peace.
ASSERTS RIGHT TO KNOW

NcuNdi inpcSAS inNS'Hcu
to Be Left Longer in Present Jeop-
ardy-Wsr May Drag Nation In
Continued Harassment May Force
|. { Change in Position Taken at Star.
Washington. -aFcilowing is the. text
OF the notes sent by Secretary or State
Lansing TO Great Britain and her al,
lies and TO the Central Powers and
their allies.
Te notes to the belngerents. are
prefaced with this instruction by Sec
SsA e.sisa4sia&. .rjS,.s ~ e y amsricznS Am.
bassadors presenting them;
The President directs me 10 send
YOU the following communication 10
be presented Immediately to the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs OF the Govern
ment 10 (which you are accredited"
The texts OF the notes themselves
then run identically thus: ..
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 ac-
tion 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 representa-
tive OF a neutral nation whose con
cern for its early conclusion arises out
OF a manifest necessity TO determine
how best TO safeguard those interests
IL the war is 10 continue"
At this point the texts vary. In
the note TO the Central Powers this
paragraph follows next:
".The suggestion which am instruc-
ted TO make the President has long
had 1t in mind 10 offer He is some.
what embarrassed 10 offer IL at this
particular time. because IT may now
seem TO have been prompted by a
desire TO play a part in connection
with the recent overtures OF the Cen
trail Powers. It has in fact been in no
way suggested by them in its origin
and the president would have delayed
offering il until those overtures had
been independently answered but for
the fact that it also concerns the
question or peace and NAV best be
considered in connection with other
proposals with have the same end in
view. The President can only beg that
his suggestion he considered entirely
on. its. own merits and as II It had
been made in other circumstances
In the note 10 the Entente Allies
the following paragraph takes the
place OF the, one just quoted:
THE suggestion which am in
structed 10 make the President has
long had in mind TO offer lie IS
somewhat embarrassed 10 offer it al.
this particular time because Il may
now seem 90 have been prompted by
the recent, overtures or the Contra.
Powrs 10 IS in fact in no way asso
ciated with.them IN its origin and the
President would have DELAYED Offering
It until those overtures had been an.
swered but for tho fact that IL also
concerns the question Of peace and
may best be considered In connection
with other proposals with have the
same end in view The President can
only beg that his suggestion be con.
sidered entirely on It's own merits and
as II II had been made in other cir.
'umtsances"
Then all the notes proceed identi.
cally as follows:
."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 70 the terms upon which the war
might he concluded and the arrange.
ments which would he deemed salts.
factory as a guaranty against It's re-
newal or the kindling OF any similar
conflict in the future as would make
It possible frankly 10 compare them
"He Is Indifferent as 10 the means
taken 10 accomplish this lie would
be happy himself 10 serve or even 10
take the initiative In its accomplish.
meni in any way that might prove ac.
ceptable but he has no desire 20 de.
termlne the method or the instrumen.
iality One way will be as acceptable
10 him as another. n only the great
object he has I'm m nd be attained
He takes the liberty OF calling az.
tention 60 the fact that the objects
which the statesmen of the bellig.
erents' on both sides have in mind in
this war are virtually the same. as
stated IN general terms 20 their own
peoule and 70 the world Each side
desires 10 make the rights and privi.
leges OF weak people and small States
as secure against aggression or denial
IN the future az the rights and priyi-
'egas % me great and powerful States
now ar war
Each wishes itself 70 be made sc.
cure in the future. along with all other
nations and people ayainst the re.
currehce Of wars like this and against
aggression % selfish interference OF
any kind Each would be jealous OF
The formation ot any more rival
leagues 70 preserve an uncertain bal.
snce OF power amidst multiplying sus.