Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1916-12-27
ASKS NATIONS At
WAR To OUTLINE TERMS
WHICH WOULD END WAR

III pIlfltCSCS
of the great and powerful sta+as now
at war. Each wishes itself to no uodo
secure in the future along with all
other nations and peoples, against +be.
recurrence of wars like tht. ond
against aggression of selfish n-orfor.
ence of any kind. Each would no
jealous of the formation. of any n,ro
rival leagues to preserve an rn.,r
tain balance of power amidst nn',i
lying suspicious; but each is read,
to consider the formation Of a leagns
of nations to insure peace and justice
throughout the world. Before that mail
step can be taken, however. each
deems it necessary first to settle TIE
issues of the present war upon terms
which will certainly safeguard the III
dependence. the territorial integrity
and the political and commercial free
dom of the nations involved.
U. S. vitality Interested.
I'm the measure to be taken to Sc
cure the future peace of the world the
people and the Government OF the
United States are as vitality interested
as the Governments now at war
Their interests. moreover, in the
means to be adopted to relieve the
smaller and weaker people of the
world of the peril of wrong and VIC
lence is as quick and ardent as that
of any other people or Government
They stand really, and even eager, to
cooperate in the accomplishment of
these ends, when the war is over, with
every influence and at their
command. But the war must first be
concluded. The terms upon which it
is to be concluded they are not at lib
erty to suggest; but the President does,
feel that it is right and his duty to
point out their intimate interest in it's
conclusion, lest it should presently be
too late to acmomplish the greater
things which lie beyond it's conclU-
! sion, lest the situation of neutral ma
lions, now exceedingly hard to en-
dd be rendered altogether intoler~
able, and lest, more than all, an in
jury be done civilization itself which
can never be atoned for or repaired.
THE President therefore feels al
together justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for a comparison
Of views as to the terms which must
precede those ultimate arrangements
for the peace of the world, which all
desire n in which the neutral ma
lions as we'll as those at wal are ready
to play their full responsible part. If
the contest must continue to proceed
towards underlined ends by slow attri-
ton 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
n side or the other there are no
more to offer, if resentments must be
kindled that can never cool and des-
pairs ~engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
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
felt the burden and terror of this I'M
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
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for which it is being waged have
I never been definitely stated.
"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 either
side avowed the precise objects which
would if attained, satisfy them and
their people that he 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 readjustments, what stage of mil
tary success ever would bring the war
to an end.
at 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 ir~reconcilable
as SOLuo nave ledleu, LudI all inter
change of views would clear the way
at least for conference and make the
permanent concord of the nations I
hope for the immediate future, a con.
cert Of nations Immediately practical
BILE.
"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 ~belligerents, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing. 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 a response which will bring a new
light into the affairs of the world
The note to the Entente group will
be delivered to Great Britain, France
Italy, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Monte,
negro, Portugal, Rumania and Serbia
That to the Central Allies will be de,
livered to Germany, Austria-Hungary
Turkey and Bulgaria.
1t is being delivered to all neutra,
governments for their information.