Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-23
WILSON COUNTS ON
FRANK REPLY FROM
ALL BELL|GERENTS
Hopes Way Will Be Opened
for Actual Opportunity
for Negotiations.
PURPOSES OF HIS NOTE
OFFICIALLY CLARIFIED
Diplomats Eagerly Watching for
Indications as to Attitude
of Neutrals.
MAY FOLLOW LEAD OF Q. S.
Early Answer Unlikely Because OF
Necessity Of Consultation Be-
tween Various Allies.
iAy FOLLOW LEAD OF Z. S.
IRy Associatcd Press. |

w .NStl loN, DcCFIllDeT CIV ME
nothing official came from europe to-
day to show when the bclliscrents will
reply to President Wilson's note urging
discussion cf peace. or what the nature
Of the responses might be, the London
news dispatches, indicating that an
early reply WAS unlikely because OF
the necessity of consultation between
the allies, agreed with the view pre-
Sailing here.
Apparently the administration, hav-
ing dispa ichcd the nos, and. in the
interest Of caution. having taken steps
to sec that no misconstruction abroad
was placed on the Presidents purposes
now is carefully watching the express
sions Of opinion, particularly in the
british press, As the attitude OF the
Teuton!c allies had been clearly fore
shadowcd in advance and the Pres
tdent, in the note. specifically dis
Claimed any association with that at
titude. the interest of American Of
ficiais centered oil the reception OF the
note in the entente countries and
among the European neutrals
1t Was recalled as the London dis
patches. most of them hostile. arrived
that similar expressions greeted the
original proposals of the central allies
but that the views were moderated in
the British press and among the en-
tcntc diplomats here after reflection
and discussion.
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR VIEWS
AND TERMS OF BELI.IGERENTS
There is growing feeling that the
| United States hopes To become the
clearing-h house for Views. and possibly
FOX erh's, Of the bcl,iEercnts. Several
| of the diplomats have advised their
In hat ..fSn
| guide them in their replies
! Surprise ut tho fast-Erownr siruif1-
cance Of the Presidents movc was cx-
pressed on all sides, where 1t was
pointed out that at first the opinion
prevailed that tho note itself was mere
~ IA "fcelerS and that The most i'm
mediatcly contemplated in Issuing it
was the receipt OF some sort Of defni-
! ton from the warning nations
That tho President should let il bo
known indirectly to the diplomats. for
their guidance. that he went even fur
| ther than that and counted on an ab-
solutely frank reply from the belliE-
! erents, which would lead to an actual
| opportunity for negotiations proved
only less surprising than the actual
note itself.
This feeling was increa ascd by Sccre-
tary Lansings authorized statement
yesterday that no soundngs had been
taken OF the attitude of the bcllic-
erents addressed. end that the noto
had been sent entirely regardless os
the. central powers proposal or of the
reply of Lloyd George
EUROPEAN NEUTR.ALS MAY
PRESENT UNITED APPEAL
| The question Very much to the fore
to-day was whether the European ncu-
trals would present q united appeal.
| The Spanish aud Swiss representatives
here have been at the State DEPART
mcnt repeatedly since those proposals
came out, and probably know fully tho
plans of this governments
Gradual ciariiication among the en-
tcnte diplomats here OF the Presidents
purpose. and indications that they
would advise their governments TO
reply in a friendly spirit proved
source Of deep qualification to-day as
/ II was pointed out both in the note
itself and by Secretary lansing that
! one OF .he dangers was that the allies
would consider the step as pro-
German move. Every effort was made
to remove this impression. and to have
the note considered entirely apart
from any other events. The entente
diplomats. at first very fearful, have
now accepted this view
Charge Grew reported to the State
! department day that the Presidents
peace note had been received in Berlin
EariN London press comment that
the note WAS painful because it said
III" objects Of the bclliserents were
practically the same. was not un-
expected here, where attention has
already been drawn to the fact that
! President Wilson specifically declared
that the published views of the oppos-
Ing statesmen left that Impression
II is stated officially that the Presl-
dent would not presume to say that
the two groups were lighting for the
same object. but merely that their Of
fetal spokcsmen had outlined much tho
into the actual details which he now
seeks.
Congressional investigation of tho
conflicting Interpretations" placed
upon President Wilson'S note to bell
iigercnt powers by the state Depart
mcnt 10 determine If any ono high In
'he administration or his relatives
prohted from the resultant stock
market fluctuations was asked In
resolution Nintroduced to-day by Rep.
resentativc Wood. Republican, OF In
diana. Il was referred to the judiciary
Committee without discussion.
PREVENT POSSIBILITY OF j
ANY MisCONsTRUcTIOg
TO preclude any possibility Of mig
construction OF the Presidents opur- =
poses from the furry OF yesterday. 3
caused by Secretary Lansing's two