The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-12-28


- ------ -
Text of President Wilson's Note Sug-
costing Peace to Belllgerents
OF Europe.
Washington, Dec. 21.-The peace
suggestions dispatched to the Delll-
gerent nations OF Europe are preIac-
ed with this instruction by Secretary
Lansing to the American ambassa-
doIs presenting gret1ggn thS effects me to send
you the following communication 70
be presented to the minister OF for
eign affairs of the government to
which you are accredited.
The texts Of the notes themselves
then begin identifaldyy as th felloM T1nited
States has Instructed me to suggest
to the (here is inserted q designa-
ton of the government addressed) a
course of action with regard to the
present war which he hopes that the
government will take under consld.
GRAFTON as suggested in the most
friendly spirit and as coming not
only from friend but also as COM
ing from the representatives OF
neutral nation whose interests nave
been most seriously affected by the
war and whose concern for It's early
conclusion arises out OF a. a m hnat 81
safeguard those interests II the war
ia to continue
At this point the texts vary. IN
the notes to the central powers this
paragraph follows next: :.
structed to make the president has
Z long had it in mind. He is somewhat
embarrassed to offer it at this par
ticular time because it may now seem
to have been prompted by desire to
play a part In connection with the
recent overtures. of the central pow.
ers. 1t has in fact. been in no way
suggested by them in it's origin and
the president would have delayed, OF,
fering it until those Overtures mad
been independently answered put Tor
the fact that it also concerns tne
question of peace and may pest De De
proposals which have the same end
fl view. The president can only beg
that his suggestion be considered
entirely on its merits, and as II II
had been made in other circum-
stances"
To Entente Allies.
In the note to the entente allies
the following paragraph takes the
place OF the one just quoted:
"The suggestion which l am IN
structed to make the president has
long had it in mind to of1er. ne IS
somewhat embarrassed to oner II al
now seem to have been prompted by
the recent overtures of the central
powers. 1t is in fact in no way as,
sociated with them in its origin and
the president would have delayed
offering 1t until those oyertures mad
been answered but for the 1act tnat
It also concerns the question OF peace
) nection with other proposals WHICH
have the same end in view; The
president can only beg that his sug-
Eestion be considered entirely on its
own merits and as It It had been
made IL . Other cl Ear9v action
Then all the notes proceed identl-
sThe president suggests that an
early occasion be sought to call out
from all the nations now at war sucn
an avowal of their respective views t9,S $
might be concluded and the arrange
ments which would be deemed sat.
isfactOry as a guaranty against It's
renewal or the kindling OF any SINH
lar conflict in the future as would
make it possible frankly to compare are
means taken to accomplish this: He
would be happy himself to serve, or
even to take the initiative in it's &C.
complishment, in any way that might
prove acceptable, but he has no DE-
Sire to determine the method or the
instrumentality One s way WSIla % e
only the great object he has IN MIND
= Objects the Same.
Gle takes the libert of calling
attention to the fact that the objects