The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-21
Executive Urges Early Express
sion Of Views Of BeIIiger-
ents on Cessation.
Points Out Vital interests of
United States Are at
Stake, Too.

The full text OF Secretary Lansing's
note to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
containing the Presidents peace sug.
gestions Is given herewith.
The note to Ambassador Page 70
practically the same, the variation
occurs mainly in the third paragraph.
THE third paragraph Of the note ns
sent to England and her allie. II rs
foIiowsiI
The suggestion which am instruct.
cd, to make the President has long had
II In mind to offer. He IL somewhat
embarrassed to offer Il at this par
ticular time, because II may now seem
to have been prompted by the recent
overtures OF the central powers. IL 10.
In fact, In no way associated with
them In Its origin. and the President
would have delayed offering IL until
those overturer had been answered
hut for the fact that II also concerns
the question OF peace and may best
be considered in connection with other
proposals. which have the same end In
view. The President can only beg
that his suggestion be considered en-
tirely on Its own merits and as II IL
had been made In other circumstances.
IThenceforwsrd the note proceeds
identieaIiy TO sIl the powers. ~ fol-
lewstI
The Secretary OF State to Ambassador
Gerard.
tTelegram.)
Department of State,
Washington, Dec. Is. 1915
"The President directs me to send
IN
be presented Immediately TO the min.
lister OF foreign affairs OF the govern
ment TO which you are accredited:
"'Thc President OF the United States
has instructed me to suggest To the
imperial German Government q course
Of action with regard TO the present
war which he hopes that the imperial
government will take under considers
tion as suggested In the most friendly
spirit and as coming not only from a
friend but also As coming from the rep
resentAtiyo Of a neutral nation whose
interests have been most seriously sf-
fected by the war and whose concern
Tor Its early conclusions arises out OF
n manifest necessity To determine how
best To safeguard those interests II
the war 10 TO continue.
Long Pissaed Act.
"'The suggestion which ! am In
structed To make the President has
long had II In mind 10 offcr. lie II
somewhat embarrassed TO offer II ut
this particuia- time because II may
nov seem to have been prompted by
q desire to play part In connection
with the recent overtures Of the cen
trail powers
"Tt has In fact been In no way sug-
gestcd by them In itr origin and the
President would have delayed offer
ing IL until those oyertureS had been
Independently answered but for the
fact that II also concerns the ques
ton Of peace and may best be con
riderod In connection with other pro-
posals which have the same end In
view. Tho President can only beg
that his suggestion be considered en-
tireiy on It's own merits and as " IL
had been made IN other circumstances.
suGEests Early Views OF BeiiiGerenss.
1.-THE President suggests that an
early occasion be sought TO call out
from all the nations now At war such
an avowal OF their respective views
as to the terms upon which the war
might he concluded and the arrange
ments which would be deemed salts
factory az a guaranty against Its re-
newal or the kindling OF any similar
conflict in the future as would make
IL possible frankly to compare them
He IL Indifferent a. to the means
taken to accomplish this.
"IIe would he happy himself 20
serve, or even TO take tho initiative
q In It's accomplishment. in any way
that might prove acceptable. but he
has no desire To determine the meth
cd or the fundamentally. One way