Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-22
WHOLE WORLD
IS STIRRED BY
WILSON S NOTE
Growing Significance Of
Presidents Move Creates
Surprise.
OTHER NEUTRALS
MAY TAKE ACTION


ole 10 an nd--Dipiomats Feel Tha.
Wilson Hopes . Make United States
Clearing He..e For Views on War
and Possibly For Peace Terms.
washington, Dec. 22.-With the pur-
poses Of the presidents note to bellig-
erents clarified by official statements
on the subject. the attention Of the
United States has turned to the re-
ception OF the note in the foreign capi-
tails.
DIPLOMATS here 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 on war and
possibly for terms of the belligerents.
Several OF the diplomats have advised
their governments to that effect, In
order to guide them in their replies.
Surprise at the fast growing sig
nificance Of the presidents move was
expressed on all sides. where 1t was
pointed out that at first the opinion
prevailed that the note was merely a
s.feeler" and that the most immedi-
ately contemplated result in issuing 1t
was the receipt Of some sort OF defini-
ton from the warning nations. That
! ~ 1nk = ho
Indirectly to the diplomats for their
guidance that he went even farther
than that and counted on frank re-
ply which would lead to an actual op-
portunity for negotiations, proved only
less. surprising than the actual note
itself.
Other NsutraIs May Act.
This feeling was introduced by Sec
retary Iansings authorized statement
yesterday that no soundings had been
taken Of the attitude OF the warning
nations addressed and that the note
i: ,s...:s:a q = heeya sent regardless Of, central
powers o.. OF the reply Of
Lloyd sGeorGe. 4 4 \ I & 81 'ss, $500
The question very much to the fore
today was whether the European Teu-
trails would present a united appeal
The Spanish and Swiss representatives
here have been at the state department
repeatedly since the proposals Of Ger
many came out and probably know
now fully the plans OF this government.
II is pointed out that the European
neutrals have suffered more than any
other nations not in the war and that
peace is more essential to them than
to any but the actual belligerents. In
addition, they have none of the bitter
ness Of war and none of Its ambitions
and are anxious more for the coming
OF peace than for the accomplishment
Of any other purpose.
a Nevertheless their geographical po-
sition between the two contending
forces has been SO dangerous that up
to now they have been able to do no
more than maintain their neutrality
without mixing in the struggle. even to
suggest peace. Part of this danger is.
however, thought removed by the
American action.
viii Ask Friendly Reply.
There Is gradual clariication among
the entente diplomats here of the pur-
pose OF the United States and indica-
tions are that they will advise their
governments to reply in a friendly
spirit. This proved gratifying today,
Ms it was pointed out. both in the note
itself and In Secretary Lansing's ex-
PLANTATION, that one Of the dangers was
that the allies would consider the step
as pro- German move. Every effort
was made to remove this impression
z4S:.a !: to have the note considered apart
entirely from any otner events. T.: The c
entente diplomats. at first very fearful,
have now accepted this view.
Charge Crew reported to the state
department today that the presidents
peace note had been received In Ber-
lin. s 9
Il is stated officially that the .presi-
dent would not presume to say that the
two groups were fighting for the same
object, but merely that their official
spokesmen had outlined much the same
general program without going into
the actual details which he now seeks.
Several hundred kilograms congrat-
ulating President Wilson on his peace
note arrived today at the White House.
Practically all Of them construed the
note as q move for peace. They came
from individuals and organizations.
The White House telegraphers were
kept busy for hours receiving the mes
sages.
Official copies Of Secretary Lansing's
two statements OF yesterday on Presi-
dent Wilson's note to the belligerents
:::.ve been sent to all American diplo-
! mats abroad for the ;I,tcr.nsiion iie
; governments to which they are accred-
tied in order that there may be no
misconstruction there of the presidents
purposes. VI z5s5 q
Note Delivered in Paris.
Paris, Dec. %. - William Graves
sharp, the American ambassador to
France, ldeltvered personally to Pre-
nier BRAND. between and last
night 81 S(Eretary Lansing's note to the
Z bs1IfgereS nations. Paris papers this
SvanIux Mint the note textuaily
y N supported gil.on.
IN tAi, SSDee %. 2.sIArgentina is
q W press INT Wilson's
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