Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-25

by Associated PressI
WASHiNGTON, December 2t-Swit
1erland. In note to ali the warripr
powers. has announced it's support of
President Wilson's appeal for discus
sion OF peace terms, saying it would
consider itself happy IL IL could act
IN any no matter how modest IL wav.
ior inc rapprochemcut of the peoples
no" engaged in the struggle and for
lasting peace
Inc note was dispatched to the
heliigerents ycStcrd- : by tho SuJs.
Federai Council. and Or. Paul Ritter
tho minister of Switzerland here, sent
d copy OF 1t to the White Eouse.
"ecIe'arE Lansing made 1t public to-
night. The translated text follows:
The President OF the United States
OF America, Will, whom the Swiss
Federal Council. guided by it's warm
desire that the hostilities may soo,
come to an. end has. for a considerable.
TIME, oeen In touch, had the Kindness
10 apprise tho Federal Council of tba
peace note sent to the governments of
the central and entente powers. In This
note President Wilson discusses III.
great destrability of international
agreements for the purpose OF avoid
ing more effectively aud permanently
the occurrence of catastrophes such AZ
'he one under which the peoples are
suHerihg to-day. In this connection.
he lays particular stress on tn. ne,es,
s'ty Tor bringing about the end of tho
present war.
MAKES NO PROPOSALS
Non OFFERS MEDIATJON
Without making peace proposals
himself, or Offering mediation he con
''"eS h'tnseit t" sounding as to wheth-
er mankind may hope TO have an
proached the haven OF peace
The most meritorious initiative ..
President Wilson will find :: ,an,,.
echo i'll Switzerland True to ~, ~,
legations arising from obseryiny ~.
s'rictest neutrality, united by the sam.
friendship with tho states of botb no
ring groups of powers. situated like an
ina AMIDST the seethinG waves of
the terrible world war, with il. ido,I
and material interests most sonsih1,.
)eopardized and violated. orr coun,r,
Is hll"d with a deep longing for n.,,o
ana ready to assist by it's small means
10 stop the endless Offerings ,aus.d
pF the war and brought before its eyes
Wy o"itH contact with the interned.
'"e se'ercN wounded aud those cy-
PEELED. and to establish the found.
n
the peoples
The Swiss Federal Council is ,boro
fore. glac to seize the opportunitv ,o
support the efforts of the President re
'he United states. II would consider
user haPpy II il could act in any ma
hatcr now modest way. for the
rapprochem"nt Of the peoples now on.
gagged In the struggle. and for reach.
ing lasting peace"
EXPECT OTHER NATIONS
TO FOLLOW EXAMPLE
diplomatic Washington tonight ac-
ccpted the Swiss note as an Indication
'hat the remaining European neutral
nations would follow the cxamnI. or
the mountain republic, and Womb
promptly get behind the United States
IN the first definite move toward ncacc
me SWISS note, however. makes point
OF explaining that President Wilson
IN MS note made no peace proposals
h''nSe't. and that he did not offer
mediation.
lie confines himself" said the com,
munication TO sounding as to whs,h
or mankind may hope TO hovc az.
preached tho haven nf poace
Tn. note makes il clear thai III.
swiss Federal Council has been in
close touch with President Wilson Tor
d considerable time" in his plans for
proaching The subject of peace 10 tho
warning nations, and - WAS believed
her" tonight that developments would
sh"" at least an informal concert OF
acti"n among practically all the ncu-
ira nations Diplomats here express.
td tn" opinion that President Wilson
undoubtedly had sounded the neutral
governments before framing his peace
note. and that the coming week would
una practically The entire neutral
world to some degree committed 10 tho
course initiated by tho President. The
promptness Of the Swiss reply tended
to support this conclusion.
The effect OF Developments along thj.
Zine would be to place the beiiigerents
In the position of answering practicaJ.
ly the entire world outside OF tho war