Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1916-12-28

ted States) are not at liberty to sug-
gest; but the president does feel that
it is his right and his duty to point
out their intimate interests in its
conclusions, lest it should presently
be too late to accomplish the greater
things which lie beyond it's conclu-
sions; lest the situation of neutral
nations, now exceedingly hard to
bear, be rendered altogether intoler
able, and lest, more than all, an in
jury be done civilization itself, that
can never be atoned for or peraided.
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 neces-
sary to insist upon are not so ire
conciliable as some have feared; that
an interchange of views would clear
the way at least for conference and
make the permanent concord of the
nations a hope of the immediate flu
ture, concert of nations immedi-
ately practicable.
"The president believes that the
spirit fl which he speaks and the
object which he seeks will be under
stood by all concerned, and he con-
fidently hopes for response which
will bring a new light into the af-
fairs of the world"
Is Not Threat.
President Wilson's note to the bel
ligerents urging discussion of peace
was officially interpreted at our ma
tional capital as not bearing any
threat that the United States might
be forced to enter the war because
of the continued invasion of its rights
by the warning powers on both Sides
Lansing Explains.
This Interpretation was made by
Secretary Lansing in formal state
ment issued to overtake what was
characterized as widespread miscon-
structions placed on one given out
saying that because of the ~iacreas-
ingly critical position of the United
States as a neutral it was entitled
to know exactly what each belliger-
ent seeks in order that it might reg
ulate its conduct for the future.
No Change in U. s. Policy.
Secretary Lansing's final statement
formally prepared and issued after
he had been called to the White
House for a conference with the pres
ident, declared that he had not in.
tended to intimate that the United
States was contemplating any change
in it's policy of neutrality and that
the whole tone and language of the
note were sufficient to indicate its
purpose without further comment on
his part.
Mr.. Lansing's first statement, made
orally and of which no official copy
was distributed, led to exaggerations
of it's language and purpose through
out official Washington. It's most
striking phrases on which the widest
speculation was based we're that the
United States was drawing nearer
the verge of war;" and that the send
ing of the note will indicate the pos.
sibility of our being forced into the
war;" and that neither he nor Presi-
dent Wilson regarded the note as a
peace note"
London Surprised.
London.-Absolute and startling
surprise was the first feeling in Great
Britain aroused by President Will.
sons note. The government was sur.
prised and frankly admitted so. The
members of the parliament were
equally surprised when the news
spread through both houses during
the afternoon session.
Germany Will Name Terms.
London.-An Exchange Telegraph
dispatch from The Hague says it is
announced semi-officially that, should
the entente allies in their reply to
the peace proposals Of the central
powers leave the door open for ne
gotiations, Germany will make known
her chief peace terms Immediately