The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-13


& nation, and before humanity.
ss Advance Again Toward Peace
Declarations made formerly by about our readiness
for peace euded by adversaries Now have ad
step further On August /, 1914 His Majesty, the
Emperor had take personally the grvest decision that
had to take the order of mobilization, which
. forced upon him by the Russian mobilization.
During these long and earnest of war the Emperor
been moved by sole thought How peace could be
stored safeguard Germany after struggle fought vlctor
ously.
sponbtv all of the In deep moral
religious duty toward his nation and beyond it to-
wards humanity our Emperor now considers the
have official peace action His Majesty therefore, in
full harmony and in with his high ideals has decided
propose 10 the hostile powers TO enter into negoa
tons
This morning transmitted a note to this effect for all
hostile powers to the representatives of those powers which
take rights in the hostile States that the repre-
senatves of SPAIN the United States of America and Stzer
Il land, and have asked them to forward that note
1.-The thing happens today Vienna, Constantnople
and Sofia Also other neutral States and His Holiness the
& Pope informed of our step.
r. Note To Neutral Powers.
e''The has the following text:
The most terrific by history has been
raging for almost two years and half in large part OF the
The catastrophe which could prevented by
sands of years of co<mon civilization hurts the most
precious achievements of humanity The spiritual and material
progress which the pride of Europe the beginning of
the twentieth century threatened with ruin
@ Germany and her allies Austria Hungary Bulgaria and
Turkey have proof of their unconquerabe strength in
this struggle They have gained gigantic advantages their
versaries superior in numbers and material Our lines
stand mistaken against repeated attacks made by the
The attack the Balkans put rapidly
and vigorously The last events that further contnu
of the will be equally unable to break forces of
resistance and that the whole situation rather uses
expecting further successes.
'The four allied (Teutonc) powers had been obliged to
in order to defend their existence and the liberty
of national evolution The glorious deeds of their armies
brought change in this respect They have always
~ tanned the firm belief that their rights and justified claims
III. in way contradict the rights
srj. Propose Peace Negotiations.
~ Their aim is shatter annhilate their adj
strength and ready continue the which
forced upon them until the if such be necessary the
In time inspired by the desire avoid further boodshe
and make end of the atrocities of the four allied
y to enter forthwith into peace negotiations
1.-THE propositions which they bring for such negotia
lions and which have the object of guaranteeing the existence
III. ing to their firm belief appropriate basis for the establish
'~ ment of lasting peace.
eff in spite of this offer peace reconciliation the
IN struggle should go the aepowers
tnue until the victorious end But they soemny decline
M every responsibility for this before humanity and history
THE imperial government has the honor by the good
III Offices of Your Exceency to ask the of here the
E of the neutral is nsered bring this commun
cation the knowledge the (here name
s4 of the belgerent power is Inserted.
X Question of Humanity
IL Gentlemen: In August 1914, enemies raised the
question to the superior in the world Today
M raise the question of which question of humanity
We expect the of with that
of mind which guaranteed to by exterior and inner
ssn strength and by our clean conscience
eff decne-if they to take
n selves and the world the heavy burden of all those
which thereafter will follow then the last smallest
the who do the human saugh
only for the sake - +her plans of humiliation and
!. quest.
In faeful hpur took the atefu decision has
saturated with the blood of hundreds thousands
and brothers that their lives for the safety of their
s. Human wits and E2man understanding are unable to
reach to the extreme and last question in this struggle of
ton which has unveiled all the teors of earthly life
also the grandeur of human which in such
III has before.
GOD will be the judge, proceed up
81 right without fear.
eve ready for fighting and ready for peace,
Ia parsd dispatch hasb dof