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

adopted to relieve the smaller and
weaker peoples of the world Of the
] peril of wrong and violence is as
quick and ardent as that OF any 9TH
er people or government. They stand
ready, and even eager, to cooperate
in the accomplishment Of these ends.
when the war is over, with every
influence and resource at their COM
mend.
"But the war must first be con-
cluded. The terms upon which it is
to be concluded they are not at liber-
ty to suggest; but the president does
feel that it IS his right and his duty
in its conclusion lest it should pres
emily be too late to accomplish the
greater things which lie beyond it's
conclusion, lest the situation Of
neutral nations, now exceedingly nard
to endure, be rendered altogether in
injury be done civilization itself
which can never be atoned for or re-
paired.
urges Comparison of Views.
'"The president therefore feels al
together justified in suggesting an
immediate opportunity for compar-
must precede those ultimate arrange
ments for the peace. Of the. world,
which all desire and in which the
neutral nations as we'll as those at
war are ready to play their full re-
sponsible part.
eff the contest must continue to
proceed towards underlined ends by
Slow attrition until the one group of
belligerents or the other is exhaust
ed, if million after million of human
lives must continue to be offered up
until on the one side or the other
there are no more to offer, if resent
ments must be kindled that can new
er cool and despairs engendered
cry, hopes of peace and OF the will
ing concert Of free peoples will be
rendered vain and idle.
"The life of the entire world has
been profoundly affected. Every part
Of the great family of mankind has
precedented contest of arms. No ma
ton in the civilized world can be
said in truth to stand outside it's in
fluence or to be safe against it's dis
turbing effects. And yet the con-
crete objects for which it is being
waged have never been definitely
Not Concretely Stated.
1.-The leaders of the several bellig-
erents have, as has been said. stated
those objects in general terms. But,
stated in general terms, they seem
the same on both sides. Never yet
have the authoritative spokesman of
iects which would, if attained, salts
fly them and their people that the
war had been fought out. The world
has been left to conjecture what
definite results, what actual ex-
change of guarantees, what political
or territorial changes or readjust-
ments, what stage OF military sue
h,.in a q
end.
ct may be that peace is nearer
than we know; that the terms which
the belligerents on the one side and
on the other would deem it necessary
to insist upon are not so irreconcll-
able as some have feared; that an in:
way at least for conference and
make the permanent concord of the
nations a hope Of the immediate flu
ture, a concert of nations immediate
ly practicable.
Not Proposing Peace.
'The president is not proposing
ton. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerents, how near the haven
of peace NAV be. for which all
mankind longs with an intense and
increasing longing. He believes that
the spirit in which he seeks will be
understood by all concerned, and he
confidently hopes for response
which will bring new light into
the affairs of the world"
The note to the entente group will
be delivered to Great Britain,
France, Italy, Japan, Russia Bel
GUM, Montenegro, Portugal, Rou-
mania and Serbia. That to the cen
trail allies will be delivered to Ger
many, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and
bulgaria
1t is being delivered to all neutral
governments for their information.