Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-21


offering mediation, the president has
sent formal notes to the governments
of all the warning nations suggesting
that can early occasion be sought to
call out from 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 ar
rangements which Awould be deemed
satisfactory as . guarantee against
its renewal or 4He kindling of any
similar conflict iiR4he future, as would
make it possible frankly to eompare
themD
Wholly wi -.odt aotiee and entirely
contrary to what administration Of
ficials have described as his course,
the president last night dispatched
the notes to all the belligerents and
to all the neutrals for their informa
ton
Texts Begin Identically.
The notes to the belligerents are
prefaeed with this instruction by See
rretary Lansing to the American am
bassadors presenting them:
"The president directs me ia send
you the following communication to
be presented imemdiately to the min
lister of foreign affairs of the gov
ernments to which you are accredited. -
The texts of the notes themselves
then begin identically, as follows:
"The president of the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
(here is inserted designation of the
government addressed) course of
action 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 friend, but
also as coming from the representa-
tive of a neutral nation whose inter
ests 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 if the war
is to continue.'
y. Embarrassrnent IS Experienced.
At this point the texts vary. In the
notes to the Central Powers this nara
graph follows next:
"The suggestion which I am in
structed to make the president has
long had it in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer it 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
central powers. 1t has, in fact, been
in no way suggested by them in it's
origin and the president would have
delayed offering it until those over
lures had been independently an
swered 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 con
sidered entirely on its merits, and as
if it had been made in other circum-
stances" "
In the note to the entente allies the
following paragraph takes the place
Of the one just quoted:
"The suggestion which ! am in
structed to make, the president has
long had it in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer il at
this particular 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 as
sociated with them in its origin and
the president would have delayed Of
fering 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 con
nection with other proposals which
have the same end in view. The presi-
dent can only beg that his suggestion
be considered entirely on its own mer-
its and as if it had been made in other
Avowal of Views Suggested.
Then all notes proceed identically 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
to the terms upon which the war
might be concluded and the arrange
ments which would be deemed salts
factory as guaranty against its re-
newal or the kindling of any similar
conflict in the future as would make
it possible frankly to compare them.
He is indifferent as to the means
taken to accomplish this. He would
be happy himself to serve, or even to
take the initiative in it's accomplish
ment in any way that might prove
acceptable, but he has no desire to
determine the method or the instru-
One way will be as ac
ceptable to him as another if only the
great object he has in mind be at
tanned.
He tawes the liberty of calling
to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen Of the belliger
ents 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 Sc
cure against aggression or denial in
the future as the rights and privi-
leges Of the great and powerful states
row at war. Each wishes to be made
secure in the future, along with all
other nations and peoples, against
the recurrence of wars like this and
against aggression Of selfish inter