Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-12-22

lament AZ quoted in a dispatch to =
the Overseas News Agency from +
Rotterdam. =
=
upon terms which will certainly safe
guard the independence, the terri
torial integrity and the political and
commercial freedom of the nations in
volved. In the measures to be taken
to secure the future peace of the world
the people and government Of the
United States are as vitality and as
directly interested as the governments
now at war. Their interest, moreover,
in the means to be 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 other people and govern
ment. They stand ready and even
eager to cooperate in the accomplish
ment of these ends when the war is
over with every influence and re-
source at their command.
Cannot Suggest Terms.
"But the war must first be conclud-
ed. The terms upon which it is to be
concluded they are not at liberty to
suggest, 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 ma
tons, now exceedingly hard to en-
dure, be rendered altogether intoler-
able, and lest more than all, an injury
be done civilization itself which can
never be atoned for or repaired.
President Feels Justified.
''The President therefore feels alto
gether justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for comparison
of views as to the terms which must
precede those ultimate arrangements
for the peace of the world, which all
desire and in which the neutral nations
as well as those at war are ready to
play their full responsible part. If
the contest must continue to proceed
towards underlined ends by slow attri-
tition until the one group of belliger-
ents or the other is exhausted, if mil
lion 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 resentments are to be
kindled that never can cool and de-
spairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace and
of the willing concert of free people
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
felt the burden and terror of this uh-
precedented contest of arms. No ma
ton in the civilized world can be said
in truth to stand outside it's influence
or to be safe against it's disturbing eff
fects. And yet the concrete objects
for which it is being waged have never
been definitely stated.
Stated in General Terms.
"The leaders of the several bellig-
erents have. as has been said, stated
these objects in general terms. But,
stated in general terms, they seem the
same on both sides. Never yet have
the authoritative Spokesman of either
side avowed the precise objects which
would, if attained, satisfy them and
their people that the war had been
fought out. The world has been left
to conjecture what definite results,
what actual exchange of guarantees.
what political or territorial changes or
readjustment, what stage of military
success ever would bring the war to
an end.
Peace May Be Very Near.
1T 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 irreconcilable
as some have feared; that an inter-
change Of views would clear the way
at least for conference and make the
permanent concord of the nations a
hope of the immediate future, con-
cert of nations Immediately practica.
BILE.
1.-The President is not proposing
peace, he is not even Offering media
ton. He is merely proposing that
soundings 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 mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing.
Believes Spirit Is Understood.
HE believes that the spirit in which
he speaks and the objects which he
seeks will be understood by all con-
cerned, and he confidently hopes for
response which will bring a new light
into the affairs Of the world"
The note to the Allied group will be
delivered to Great Britain, France,
Italy, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Mon
tenegro, Portugal; Roumania and Ser
via. That the Central Allies will be
delivered to Germany, Austria-Hun
tria- Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.
It is being delivered to all neutral