Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-21
SENDS PERSONAL
NOTE ON SUBJECT
TO BELL|GERENTS
Wants Avowal of Respec-
tive Views by Nations
in Conflict.
| MAKES NO SUGGESTION
OF TERMS OR METHODS
Declares Communication Not
Prompted by Recent Overtures
of Central Powers.
WOULD PROVIDE FOR FUTURE
Latest Developments in Interest OF
Peace Most Distinct Surprise to
! All Official Washington.
MAKES NO SUGGESTION
OF TERMS OR METHODS
WOULD PROVIDE FOR FUTURE
--latest Developments in Interest OF
Peace Most Distinct Surprise to
All Official Washington.


ident Wilson has appealed TO all the
belligerents to discuss terms of peace.
Without actually proposing peace or
offering mediation. the President has
sent formal notes to the governments
OF all the warning nations suggesting
that IAN early occasion be sought 10
call out from the nations now at war
such All avowal of their respective
views as to the terms upon which the
war might be concluded and the arr
rangements which would be deemed
satisfactory as guaranty against it's
renewal or the kindlinG of any similar
conflict in the future as would make IL
possible frankly to compare them"
Wholly without notice and entirely
contrary to what administration Of
iicials have described in his course the
President last night dispatched notes
to all the belligerents and to all the
neutrals for their Information. Sum-
married. In the Presidents own words
as contained in the notes. his attitude
is as follows
The President is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media
ton. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken. III order that we
may learn. the neutral nations with the
beliigerents. how near the haven OF
peace may be for which all mankind
longs with intense and increasing
longing. He believes that the spirit
in which he speaks and the objects
which he seeks will he understood by
all concerned. and he confidently hopes
for a response which will bring n new
light into the affairs of the world"
LATEST DEVELOPMENT
KEPT SECRET FOR ~ HOURS
This latest development in the
rapidly moving world events toward
a discussion Of peace was not per-
mitted to become known until to-
night, when the notes were we'll on
their way to the American ambassadors
In the belligercnt capitals. and prob
ably already in the hands of some or
them.
II was "A most distinct surprise to
all official Washington, which had been
led to believe that with the formal
transmittal of the proposals of the
central powers the offices of the United
States would await further moves be-
tween the belliserent themselves. and
that certainly, in view OF the speech
OF Premier Lloyd George and the an
nouncments in Russin. France
Italy, further action by neutrals
would depend upon the next careful
and delicate moves in the great diplo-
matte spectacle between the belliger-
ents themselves.
The whole tenor of official opinion
throughout Washington when the
Presidents action became known was
that it immeasurably improved the
prospects for some sort Of exchanges
looking toward an approach to peace
discussions between the belligcrents,
without impairing the position of the
United States should they finally be
unable to find ground on which TO
approach one another.
At the, White House no statement
whatever could be obtained to
whether any of the powers had inti-
mated how they would receive the note.
and there was every indicat ation that
the same careful secrecy which pre-
vented even anything whatever becom-
ing known about the Presidents ac-
tlon until it had been taken would
surround any Of the succeeding moves.
NOTHING. TO INDICATE
MISUNDERSTANDING EVENTS
Nowhere on the surface appears any
indication Of the history y-making events
which diplomatists generally are con-
Germanic allies brought forth their
proposals. to dispcl the generally
prevalent belief that such an action
on the part OF President Wilson would
be unacceptable to the entente powers.
British embassy officials declared
they were utterly taken by surprise,
were wholly unable to explain II. and
emphatic in their statement that no
exchanges whatever had passed through
the embassy here as II preliminary.
The hope OF the German powers that
President Wilson would intercede in
some way has long been we'll known,
and has been conveyed in various ways
to the White House The attitude of
the entente allies as expressed by their
statesmen. and certainly until recently,
in official advices to the American gov
crnment has been that a peace offer
by the United States would be consid-
cred almost the next thing to un-
friendly.
All that, however. was before tho
German allies brought forward their