The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-12-29
PRESIDENT WILSON
ASKS PEACE Terms
Believes interchange Of Views
Would Clear Way For
Conference.
THINKS PEACE MAY BE NEAR
Concord OF Nations Possible, He
ThInks--Note Voices Hope Way
May Be Found To End
All Warfare.

May Be Found TO End
All Warfare.
President Wilson amazed official and
diplomatic Washington by the pub
location of an almost identical mes
sage sent to all the belligerent nations
in Europe, in which he asks them to
state concretely their aims in the pres
ent war, In order that some possible
basis may be found for the restoration
of peace.
Now / am perfectly convinced we
will have conference" said Count
Won Bernstorff, the German Ambas-
sador, when he learned of President
Wilson's message.
The President, however, did not pro-
pose peace; he is not even offering
mediation. He says in his message
that he lis merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
as the belligerents-how near the
haven Of peace may be for which all
mankind longs, with an intense and
increasing longing"
Washington.-The following COM
munication has been sent by Secretary
Lansing to the American diplomatic
representatives accredited to the gov
ernments Of Germany, Austria-Hun-
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria. A COM
munication practically identical in
phrasing has been sent to the Amer
lean diplomatic representatives ac-
credited to the governments of Great
Britain. France, Italy, Japan, Russia,
Belgium, Montenegro, Portugal, Rou-
mania and Serbia. Copies of both
communication have been sent to all
neutral nations for their information:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Dec. Is, 1916.
The President directs me to send
you the following communication to be
presented Immediately to the Minister
Of Foreign Affairs of the Government
to which you are accredited:
The President Of the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
Imperial German Government a course
Of action with regard to the present
war which he hopes that the Imperial
Government will take under considera-
ton as suggested in the most friendly
spirit and as coming not only from a
friend but also as coming from the
representative Of neutral nation
whose interests have been most seri-
ously affected by the war and whose
concern for its early conclusion arises
out Of manifest necessity to deter
mine how best to safeguard those in
terests if the war is to continue.
The suggestion which / am instruct
ed to make the President has long had
it in mind to offer. He is somewhat
embarrassed to offer it at this par
ticular time because it may now seem
to have been prompted by desire to
play part in connection with the re-
cent overtures Of the Central Powers.
It has in fact been in no way sug-
gested by them in its origin, and the
President would have delayed offering
it until those overtures had been in
depondently answered, but for the fact
that 1t also concerns the question Of
peace and may best be considered in
connection with other proposals which
have the same end in view. The Pres
ident can only beg that his suggestion
be considered entirely on its own
merits and as il 1t had been made in
other circumstances.
The President suggests that an early
occasion be sought to call out from
all 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
q guaranty against its renewal or the
kindling of any similar conflict in the
future as would make it possible frank
ly to compare them. He is Indifferent
as to the means taken to accomplish
this. He would be happy himself to
serve, or even to take the initiative In
its accomplishment, in any way that
might prove acceptable, but he has nc
desire to determine the method or the
instrumentality. One way will be rs
acceptable to him as another If only
the great object he has in mind be at
tanned.
He takes the liberty of calling at,
tention to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen OF the belligerents
on both sides have in mind in this war
are virtually the same, as stated in
general terms to their own people and
\ to the world. Each side desires to
make the rights and privileges Of weak
peoples and small states as secure
against aggression or denial in the fu
ture as the rights and privileges OF
the great and powerful states now a,
war Each wishes itself to be made
secure in the future, along with all
other nations and peoples, against the
recurrence Of wars like this, and
against aggression OF selfish interfer
ence Of any kind Each would be