Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22

the world, which all desire, and In which
the neutral nations as we'll as those at
war are ready to play their full re-
sponsible part"
The objects which the belligerents
have in mind, the president points out,
are virtually the same as stated in gem
eral terms to their people and to the
world, but yet the concrete objects of
the war have never been definitely
stated" Never yet" he says, have
the authoritative statesmen of either
side avowed the precise objects which
would, If attained. satisfy them and
their people that the war had been
fought out. The world has been left
TO conjecture what definitive results,
what actual exchange of guarantees,
what political or territorial changes or
readjustments, what stage of military
success even, would bring the war to
an end.
PEACE MAY BE NEAR.
at may be-" continues the note, that
peace is nearer than we know; that the
terms which the belligerents on the one
side and on the other would deem 1t
necessary to insist upon are not 80
irreconcilable as some have feared;
that an interchange of views would clear
make the permanent concord of the ma
tions a hope of the immediate future. a
concert of nations Immediately practi-
cable"
The notes to the belligerents are
prefaced with this instruction by Sec
rotary Lansing to the American ambas-
sador presenting them:
THE president directs me to send you
the following communication to be pre-
sented Immediately to the minister OF
foreign affairs OF the governments to
which you are accredited"
The texts of the notes themselves
then begin identically' as follows:
1.-THE president OF the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
(here is inserted a designation of the
government addressed) a course of &C
ton with regard to the present war
which he hopes that the government
will take under consideration as sug-
gested in the most friendly spirit as
coming, not only from friend, put
also as coming from the representative
of a neutral nation whose interests have
been most seriously affected by the war
and whose concern for it's early conclu-
sion arises out of a manifest necessity
to determine. how best to safeguard
those interests If the war is to con-
tinue." ft
At this point the texts vary.
In the notes to the central powers
this paragraph follows next:
"The suggestion which am instruct
ed to make the president has long had
it in mind to offer. He Is somewhat
embarrassed to offer 1t at this part1c-
ular time because 1t may now seem to
have been prompted by a desire to play
a part in connection with the recent
overtures of the central powers. 1t has
in fact been In no way suggested by
them in It's origin and the president
would have delayed offering 1T until
those overtures had been independently
answered, but for the fact that it also
concerns the question of peace and may
best be considered in connection with
other proposals would have the same
end in view. The president can only
beg that his suggestion be considered
entirely on it's own merits and as II II
had been made in other circumstances
NOTE To ENTENTE.
In the note to the entente allies the
following paragraph takes the place OF
the one just quoted:
THE suggestion which | am instruct
ed to make the president has long mao
it in mind to offer, lie is somewhat en-
barrassed to offer tt at this particular
time because it may now seem to have
been prompted by the recent overtures
of the central powers 1t is in fact 1T
no way associated with them In ltS OIL
gin and the president would have delay
ed Offering it until those overtures nae
been answered but for the fact that II
also concerns the question OF peace ano
NAV best be considered in connection
with other proposals which nave the
same end in view. The president car
only beg that his suggestion be conslo'
cred entirely on it's own merits and al
if it had been made other clrcum'
stances" .
Then, all the notes proceed identlcally
as follows:
THE president suggests that an early
occasion be sought to call out from al
the nations now at war such an avoWa
of their respective views as to the terms
upon which the war might be concludeC
and the arrangements which would pt
deemed satisfactory as guaranty
against it's renewal of the kindling o.
any similar conflict in the future as
would make it possible frankly TO com
pare them He is Indifferent as 10 the
means taken to accomplish this. H'
would be happy himself to serve, or ever
TO take the initiative in its accomplish
ment, in any way that might prove &C
ceptable, but he has no desire to deter
mine the method or the instrumentallty
One way will be as acceptable to MIN
as another If only the great OBJECT ~
has in mind be attained
He takes the liberty of calling atten
lion to the fact that the objects Whlci
the statesmen of the belligerents OF
both sides have i'm mind in this war arr