The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-21
In Message Addressed to All Belligerents, the Presi- dent, Without Offering Mediation Or Proposing Peace, Seeks to Learn At titude of Nations. \

Peace, Seeks to Learn At
 titude of Nations. x Message Occasions Great
 Surprise, Both In Wash
 ington and European Cap
 itals Despatched Before
 lloyd George Made His
 Address to Parliament.
 Washington. Dec. 21 - President Wilson, through Secretary of State Lansing, has requested all the nations engaged in the European war to state definitely the objects for which feach is fighting, and indicate the terms on which peace may be arranged.
 In taking this step it must be dis tinctly understood that the President is not proposing peace or making an offer of mediation. He desires this information for the benefit of the en- tire world, without exception.
 A careful analysis of statements made from time to time by those rep resenting both groups of nations con- cerned in the conflict has convinced the President that each party to the controversy is fighting with the same purpose in view. If this is true, he Relieves it should not be difficult for an adjustment of differences if those interested can be brought together.
 Notes containing the Presidents proposal were sent to the American envoys to be delivered to Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Gull garfa. making up the central allies, and to the entente group, composed of Great Britain. France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Montenegro, Portu- lgnl, Roumania and Serbia. z. Sent to Neutrals Also.
 The note was forwarded also to all neutral governments for their infor- Inxtfon. .. i5ss. ! The proposal is dated Dec. ]. IS, which demonstrates that it. was not Influenced by the speech of David lloyd George to the British Paria-- Iment yesterday.1 The message of sug- ,gestion was on the wires before the British Premier began his verbal re-i l ply, to Chancellor von Bethmann-H -Holl- veg.
 me chief object in sending the communication was to test the sin lcer1ty of the Teutonic powers and tho entente allies. It is proposed to piece both on record. If the protes- tataons on each side of "a hope of psFce are real it is believed that those niaaina them now Mil1 come xorward; otherwise. they will remain alcof and not Aheed the Presidents suggestion.
 Above all things; the President has no intention of making this govern ment obnoxious by seeking to indicate that peace should be arranged, or by tendering good offices in the direction of terminating the conflict To state the matter plainly, the President will, mot ssbutt in.'' f. x. In advancing the test of sincerity, the President makes it clear that, ac- cording to their own version of events. the varfousl bellfgerents are lighting for the same end. He makes this declaration plain in his com munication in order that no quibbling or evasion may follow. ~ Why the President Acted l In explaining the apparently sudden Action of the President and the unex- pectedness of it's announcement, these known facts must be taken into con- Alteration.
 1.-The President has been work
 ing on this subject for weeks. His w representatives in the various Y warning capitals have kept him
 In close touch with the pulse of
 popular sentiment prevailing, in
 the belligerent countries. He
 reached a final decision many
 days ago that a propitious time
 for making the first move toward
 sounding our terms and inten- tions was near at hand. The
 beginning of a slow winter cam
 paign, in. the mind of the Pres
 dent, offered the best opportunity
 that could be expected.
 3. The note as transmitted is
 neither a peace proposal nor an
 offer of good offices, according to
 the usually accepted interpreta-
 tion of the words It was fornu-
 lated and based upon the un-
 doubted right of this government, OA AeS OWI dCCOuIts IO OOt6AA
 the belligerents a statement of
 their purposes in order that ade-
 quate provision might be made
 against the future.
 B. Aside from all questions re-
 lating to the, humanitarian fea-
 lures of the. W.T.. and the hopu
 that suffering may end, this gov-
 ernment has reached the point where 1t may be compelled to
 take steps for the protection of it's
 own rights Methods other than
 those utilized in the diplomatic
 correspondence of the last two and
 a half years might become neces-
 sary for se1f-protectiorl. The pa
 tience of the President has been x taxed to the breaking point
 througfs the continual infringe
 hnent of American rights. He de-
 sires now to ascertain how much
 longer he may be forced to await
 the termination of the war. pro-
 vided the be1ligerents proceed at
 their pace.
 4. It is the belief of the Presi- dent that each and all of the bel
 Hgerents will accept his sugges-
 ton and indicate their maximum peace terms. This conviction is
 founded on information received
 by the President from the differ