Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-23
WILSON EXPECTS
NEUTRAL NATIONS
TO FOLLOW LEAD
Hope Expressed at Washing
ton that Europeans>at War
Will Aid the Peace
Movement.
EXPECTS FRANK REPLIES
Presidents Talks with Diplo.
mats Causes Greater Sur
price Than Note.
MOVE GROWING IN SCOPE


London, Dec. 22.--An Exchange
Telegraph dispatch from The Hague
says it is announced semi-ofiicially
that should the entente allies in their
reply TO the peace proposals Of the
central powers leave the door open
for negotiations Germany will make
known its chief peace terms imme-
diately,
Washington, Dec. 22--With the
purposes Of President Wilson's note
TO bclligerents clarified by official
statements on the subject, the attcn-
| ton OF the United States has been
turned to the reception of the note
in the foreign capitals.
| Diplomatists are eagerly watching
for indications of whether the Euro
pean neutrals will follow the lead OF
| the United States and make similar
appeal to the warning powers.
There is a growing feeling that the
| United States hopes to become the
clearing house for views and possibly
for terms OF the belligerents. Sew
eral OF the diplomatists have advised
their governments to that effect in
order to guide them in their replies,
Move Grows in Scope.
Surprise at the fast growing sig
nifcance Of the presidents move was
expressed on all sides, where it was
pointed out that at first the opinion
prevailed that the note was merely
"a "feeler' and that the most inn
lmediately contemplated effect in issu-
ing il was the receipt of some sort
of definition from the various warning
nations. That the president should
let it be known indirectly to the
diplomats for their guidance that he
went even farther than that and
counted on an absolutely frank reply
from the belligercnts, which would
lead to an actual opportunity for ne
gotiations, proved only less surpris-
ing than the actual note itself.
/ This feeling was increased by Sec
rotary Lansing's statement yesterday
I THAT no soundings had been taken pf
1.-THE attitude of the bclligerents and
that the note had been sent regard
less Of the central powers proposals
or of the reply Of Lloyd George
| The question very much to the fore
to-day was whether the European nett
trails would present united appeal.
The Spanish and Swiss representa-
tives here have been at the State
department repeatedly since those
proposals came out and probably
know fully the plans of this gov
ernment.
1t is pointed out that the Euro
pean neutrals have suffered beyond
any other nation not actually in
volved in the war and that ,pcace is
more essential to them than to any
but the actual belligerents. In addi-
tion, they have none of the bitterness
OF war and none of its ambitions and
are anxious more for the coming oil
peace than for the accomplishment
OF any other purpose. Nevertheless
their geographical position between
the two contcnding forces has been
so dangerous that up to now they
have been able to do no more than
maintain their neutrality without mix.
/; ing il the struggle even to suggesting
I peace Part OF this danger is, how,
ever, thought removed by the Amer
ican action.
; Will Advise Friendly Replies.
Gradual clarihcation among the en-,
tente diplomats here of the prcsi
dents purpose and indications thai
they would advise their governments
to reply in friendly spirit, proved a
source OF deep qualification today, a:
it was pointed out both in the note
itself and in Secretary Lansings ex
PLANTATION that one of the dangers was
that the allies would consider the
J step as pro-German move. Every
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