Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-22
TO WARNING NATIONS
President Wilson Makes an Ap-
peal Without Proposing Peace
Does Not Offer Mediation, But Wants
Term Discussed - Our Own Rights
May Become Involved.


In formal notes to all the bcligerents
President Wilson, without proposing
peace or offering mediation, has APP
pcalcd 10 them to discuss terms which
may end the war.
The President s notes have been vir-
tually As hours on their way today and
officials believe that they had all
reached the foreign capitals
Diplomatists think it is incredible
that President Wilson should have
taken this action without some belief
that it would not be fatty rejected
without consideration by the entente
allies.
Officials and diplomatists, analyz-
ing the President : note, find some-
thing deeper than an appeal for consid-
Grafton of peace terms. They see that
the President was also considering
what would have been the course of
the United States to conserve its in
terests as neutral if the war is to
continue.
Distinct surprise was apparent among
diplomatic officials in Washington to-
day over President Wilson S plea TO
the European belligcrents to discuss
peace terms. Publication yesterday Of the
notes gave most officials the first notice
that such a step was even contemplated
at this time
Opinions here inclined to the view
that the action would give strong en-
couragement to some sort of exchanges
which might result in discussion of def
mite peace terms.
1t was believed, further that since
the President seeks only a Qualification
of peace views and does not offer medi-
alton the United States will not be
placed in an embarrassing position if
the European nations should be unable
to develop q basis on which to approach
the other.
Officials of the British embassy de-
clarcd they were wholly unable to ex'
plain the action.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, said: "Now I am perfect
| " convinced there will be a confer
encc' He may. confer with Secretary
Lansing today.
Deepest interest centered yesterday i'll
the probable time and form of the bel
ligerents reply. 1t is assumed that tho
members of each group of allies will
consult one another and agree on 2 noi-
form statement of views 1t is thought
also that some time may elapse before
the groups can settle down to an ac-
tual agreement on terms to be pre-
sented. Meanwhile the allied entente
response to the central powers pro-
posals are expected almost any time
for transmission through this country
to their various destinations.
Count Won Bernstorlf. the German
ambassador. conferred with Secretary
| Lansing today and it was understood
the secretary explained President Will
son S action in addressing the belliger-
ents.
Secretary Lansing, in a statement
today, in explaining the sending of
| President Wilson s note to the belligcr-
ents. declared it was because the situa-
ton for ncutrals was becoming in
crcasingiy critical and the United
States itself was being drawn near the
verge of war. The statement says i'll
part
cit is not our material interests we
had in mind when the note was sent,
/ but more and moro our own rights arc
becoming involved by the belligerents
on both sides so that the situation is
/ becoming increasingly critical.
- mean by that that we are draw
| ing near the verge of war ourselves
and therefore we are entitled to know
exactly what each belligerent seeks i'll
order that we may regulate our con-
duet i'll the future. No nations have
been sounded; no consideration of the
German overtures or of the speech OF
/ Lloyd George was taken into account.
The only thing the overtures did was
to delay it few days.
Secretary Lansing further said:
"The sending of the note will indicate
/ the possibilities of our being forced
into the war. That possibility ought to
serve as a restraining and SOLDERING
force, safeguarding American rights
Ii may also serve to force an earlier
conclusion of the war.
"Neither the President nor myself
regard this note as a peace note. 1t
is merely an effort to get the belliger
ents to define the ends for which they
are fighting -
At the White House no effort was
made to lessen the Importance of See
rotary Lansing's statement. President
! Wilson would make no comment. Presi
dent Wilson himself on several occa-
Sions has .nted out the danger of the
| United States becoming involved in the
war Because of violations of Ameri
can rights he has felt that the United
States had very difficult role to fill