Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-21
BELIEVES PEACE Near
President Convinced Interchange Of
Views Would Clear Way for Hold.
ing Early Conference.

a."
President Wilson has appealed to
all the beHigerents to discuss terms
of peace.
Without actually proposing peace
or offering mediation, the President
has sent formal notes TO the govern
ments of all the warning nations sug-
pestinr that "an early occasion be
SOUGHT to call out from the nations
now at war such an avowal OF their
respective views as to the terms upon
which the war might be concluded
and the arrangements which would
be deemed satisfactory as guaranty
apainst us renewal or the kindnng
of any similar conflict in the future
as would make it possible frankly to
compare them"
Wholly without notice and entirely
contrary to what Administration Off
cials have described as his course the
President last night dispatched the
notes tc all the belligerents and 20
all the neutrals for their information.
The following are the chief points
in the Presidents plea:
The President hopes that the belli-
gercnts will take under consideration
his suggestions as coming not only
from friend, but from the repre-
sentative of neutral nation whose
interests have been most seriously
affected by the war, and whose con-
Germ for its early conclusion arises
out of manifest necessity to de-
termine how best to safeguard those
interests if the war is to continue.
All. the belligerents are asked to
avow their views as to the terms up-
on which the war might be concluded
and the arrangements which would
be deemed satisfactory as a guaranty
against it's renewal or the kindling
of my similar conflict in the future 1
Is He directs attention TO the fact
u. that tho objects which the sts:tr7-,
men of the belligerents have in mind
virtually are the same as stated by
them in general terms.
The President points out that each
side claims it wants weak peoples
and nations protected and rival
leagues to preserve an uncertain
balance of power made impossible.
In such measures to preserve the
peace Of the world the United States
is said by the President to be rs
vitally and directly interested as any
of the nations now at war.
In preserving the rights of weaker
nations the United States is said to
have as quick and ardent an interest
as any peoples or governments.
The President points out that the
United States cannot cooperate in
maintaining world peace and protect
ing smaller nations until the war
ends.
He points out that if only war 70
complete exhaustion and further sac
rifices of millions of lives is the OBJ
iect of the belligerents, then hopes
Of peace and of the willing concert
Of free peoples will be rendered vain
and idle.
The President declares that no ma
ton in the civilized world can be said
to stand outside the influence OF the
war or to be safe against its disturb
ing effects.
The general terms OF both sides.
Sthe President says, seem the same,
Nand then points out that the world
hSs been left to conjecture what de-
finite results, what actual exchange
OF guarantees, what political or ter
ritcrial changes or readjustmenes,
what stage of military success even
would bring the war to an end.
The President points out that lie
is not proposing peace or even Of
ferine mediation, but asks merely
that soundings be taken, and says he
confidently hopes for a response
which will bring new light into the
affairs of the world.