The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-24
SPEECHES 0F STATESMEN
 REGARDED AS VOGUE
All Reseapk of the Rights of Small Nations, the Repuanancc Of Con. quest and the Guarantee Of Perma- nent ePace, But Do Not Say What They Want


 as to tucir exact meaning in seeking just and permanent peace is the whole purpose of the note addressed to all the beligerents by President Wilson The United states desires a fuG, practical and detailed statement from each ot the governments ad- dressed. This outline and what fol. lows, was stated officially today f" the administration.
 This government does net know aud feels that it has been given no r al means of knowing what terms would be required by each of the beliger- cuts to make peace, It regards the recen. speeches of the leading states Uen m all countries as vague and m. dc.red and sees nothing in them that w-uld enable conference 10 draw mp treaty All bespeak of the rights ol snal natiols, the cepugnance of conquest and the guarantees of a per mahent peace, but no one nation has yet gone into what it means by those phrases in way that the government of the United States can understand.
 Recent press comment has been taken to enhance uhat yagucness, France, for instance has not disclos ed if what sine considers a just peace means the evacuation of her northern provinces or in addition to that the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine, or if in addition to both th SC claims she ex- poets mcley indemnity for the dam. age of invasion or beyond that if she has an actua, program for doing away with so-called German militarism
 In short, the United States asks what would she accept today as the basis of peace
 Similar issues apply to all the bel liFerent countries in merely a varying form What President Wilson wants is their details. As the largest neu. tral facing grave problems and as the f,iend of all parties concerned, the | Ultted States feels earnestly that it is entitled 10 know those facts. Ul' less some one of the groups lays down its actual terms, there will be no basis for negotiations and no possi 5i,ity Cf peace till the world IS bleI white, officials declare.
 There is not the slightest eXpecto- ton here that the terms laid downyi will be reconcihable at first. It i5 known that some of tne nations will demand what il actuality is impo5si- ole. Nevertheless, the naming ol these terms will afford a basis 9i ne sotiation. a starting place from which the conflicting forces can converge Nor is any embarrassment seen to any of the nations in naming such terms. It is understood in advance that they are apt to tluctuate with the military changes and are not per binding under new condi' uons. Whatever any nation feels must be included in it's terms for moral reasons can also be added to the terms without cmt0rrasemelt l. is said
 As to permanent guarantees it was declared that the United States stands ready to enter any kind of international agreement that may seem most desirable to the nations whether permanent peace is 10 be sa cured by force, if necessary Or by law. The country is not committed 10 any enc plan aud President Wilson is entirely open to suggestions. IL is t..e administration view that the coul- t~y cal be committed to an abandon inert of the policy of isolation much as President Monroe committed it to the Monroe doctrine without senate action. In the plans SO far contem' plated, however, it is probable the m. tior would be bound by treaty agree ments which would necessarily have r. be ratified by the senate, 80 far as the Gifted States is concerned
 A fuller understanding Of the em. barrassment caused to the admins tration by the coincidence of it's note with the German prop2sals was given today when it was ss spite the early unfayorabe e Aths note was expected to al