The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
Government of Switzerland
Sends Note to belliserents
Asking Statement of Terms
MOUNTAIN REPUBLIC
IS WITH PRESIDENT
Other Neutral Nations Expect
ed to Follow Swiss Lead In
Urging Definite Proposals.
Mighty Echo Found

Washington. Dec. 24.-Defntte as
surance Of support for President Will
sons peace move by the neutral ma
lions of Europe reached Washington
today. in a note addressed by the gov
eminent OF Switzerland TO the warning
nations. The Swiss communication
places Switzerland squarely behind the
President in his efforts to secure a
statement from both sides in the con-
fiict as to the ultimate ends for which
they are lighting. II declares that the
Presidents initiative In the matter
had found a mighty echo" in Switzer-
land and pledged Switzerland's sup
port to the Prestsnt's efforts.
The Swiss nots was sent by the
Swiss Federal Council and was ad-
dressed to all the belligerent nationA
1t was dated December Is. and show
ed clearly that the Swiss government
had been prompt in considering the
Presidents note and in deciding TO
join his effort to end the war.
Diplomatic Washington tonight &C.
cepted the Swiss note as an indication
that the remaining European neutral
nations would follow the example Of
tho mountain republic, and would
L
in the flrst definite move toward peace.
The Swiss note. however. makes =
point OF explaining that President
Wilson in his note made no peace
proposals himself" and that ne did
not offer mediation.
Hassn6aa watching Wilson.
He oonnnes himself" said the
communication, TO sounding as to
whether mankind may hope to have
approached the haven Of peace"
The note makes II clear that the
Swies federal council has been In close
touch with President Wilson 'for .
considerable time In his plans for
hroachins the subject of peace -
the warning nations. and it was be-
iiered here tonight that developments
would show at least an informal con-
cert of action among practically all
the neutral nations. Diplomats here
expressed the opinion that President
Wilson had undoubtedly sounded the
neutral governments before framing
his peace note, and that the coming
week would and practically the en-
tire neutral world to some degree
committed to the course initiated by
the President The promptness OF the
Swiss reply tended to support this
conclusion. y
The effect of developments along
this line would be to place the hellig-
erents in the position OF answering
practically the entire word outside
81 the war zone. when they come to
consider their replies to the Presi-
dents note. The concerted demand
that peace terms be made clear and
definite, with the weight OF all the
neutrais behind It. would be a vastly
different matter than an individual
demand from the United States as a
single neutral, such dem IN would
force deep and earnest considerations
by the helligerents before they could
aticrd to refuse to comply with it.
Following was the Secretary Of
States announcement as to the Swiss
note:
The Secretary of State made pub
lie today the following communica-
ton to this government from the
Swiss government:
Text of Swiss Note.
"(Translation.) Text of note of
Swiss Federal Council. of December
23, 1916. addressed to all belligerents
(Not Vet communicated to neu-
trala)
THE President OF the United States
OF America. with whom the Swiss
= GWGA "a SO0uIl, 6QAuSu ny AAl6 war II
desire that the hostilities may soon
come to an end. has, for q consider
able time. been ins touch. had the
kindness to apprise the Federal
Council OF the peace note sent to the
governments OF the central and en-
tente powers. In this note Presid ent
Wilson discusses the great desirability
of International agreements for the
purpose Of avoiding moro effectively
and permanently the occurrence OF
catastrophes such as the one under
In this connection he lays particular
stress on the necessity for bringing
about the end of the present war
Without making peace proposals him.
self or Offering mediation, he con-
flnes himself to sounding AZ to wheth-
err mankind may hope to have ap-
preached the haven OF peace.
MegitOrious Initiative.
THE most meritorious personal In
itiative of President Wilson will nnd
q mighty echo In Switzerland. To the
obligations arising from observing the
strictest neutrality, united by the same
friendship with the States OF both
warning groups Of powers, situated
waves Of terrible world war. with its
ideal and material interests most son-
sihly jeopardised and violated, our
county 10 filled with . deep longing
for peace, and ready TO assist by It's
small means to stop the endieas- suf-
ferinRs caused by the war AMI brought
before ;ts eyes BY daily coaisc. with
the interled. and severely wounded
and those expelled. and to establish
the foundations for benenciaf co.
operation Of the peoples.
Tho Swiss Federal Council IL,
therefore. glad to seise the oppor-
tunity to support the efforts OF the
President Of the United StatSs. II
would considsr itsslf happy ifA could