Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-12-22
PRESIDENT URGES
PEACE DISCUSSION
FORMALLY ASKS ALL BELLIG.
ERENTS TO STATE TERMS
FOR ENDING WAR.

Wholly without notice and entire
ly contrary to what administration
officials have described as his course,
President Wilson Wednesday night
notes to all the belliger-
ents in the European war, urging
discussion of the terms of peace, and
to all the neutrals for their informa-
ton.
Summarized 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
be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerent, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all man
kind longs with an intense and in
creasing longing.
Hopes for Light.
He believes that the spirit in
which he speaks and the objects
which he seeks will be understood by
all concerned, and he confidently
hopes for response which will bring
a new light into the affairs of the
world.
Without actually proposing peace
or Offering mediation, the president
formally suggested to the govern
ments of the warning nations that
"an early occasion be sought to call
out from the nations now at war
such an avowal of their respective
views as to the terms upon which
the war might be concluded and the
arrangements which would be
deemed satisfactory as guarantee
against its renewal or the kindling
of any similar conflict in the future.
as would make it possible frankly to
compare them"
The dispatch Of the notes was .
most distinct surprise to all official
Washington, which had been led to
believe that with the formal trans
initial of the proposals Of the central
powers the offices Of the United
States would await further moves
between the belligerents themselves
and that certainly, in view of the
speech Of Premier Lloyd George and
the announcements in Russia, France
and italy, that the allies would re-
ject the German proposals, further
action by neutrals would depend up
on the next careful and delicate
moves of the belligerents.
Improves Peace Prospects.
The whole tenor Of official opin-
ions throughout Washington, when
the presidents action became known,
was that It immeasurably improved
the prospects for some sort Of ex-
change looking toward an approach
to peace discussions between the
belligerents without impairing the
position of the United States should
they finally be unable to find good
ground on which to approach one
another.
At the White House no statement
whatever could be obtained as to
whether any of the powers even had
intimated how they would receive
the note, and there was every indica-
ton that the same careful secrecy.
which prevented anything whatever
becoming known about the presi-
dents action until 1t had been taken,
would surround any Of the succeed
ing moves.
Diplomats consider It Incredible
that the president would bring for
ward such a proposal at such time
unless he had reason to believe it
would receive respectful considera-
ton at the hands Of all the belliger-
ents and above all would not preju-
dice the position of the United States
as a possible mediator.
nnlv Cot,