Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-26
SWISS REPUBLIC
BACKS WILSON'S
MOVE FOR PEACE
Federal Council, in Note to All
Warning Powers, Announc-
es It's Support Of U, S,
Chiefs Appeal.
HOPES FOR END OF COMBAT
Little Neutral Nation Approves
Attempt of President to
Start Negotiations.
ISLAND IN SEA OF WAR

Washington Dec. 25.-Switzeriand,
in note to all OF the warning powers,
has announced its support OF Presi-
dent Wilson's appeal for discussion
of peace terms, saying it would con-
slider itself happy if it could act in
any, no matter how modest a way,
for the rapproachment OF the peoples
now engaged in the struggle, and for
a lasting peace"
The note was sent to the belliger-
ents Friday by the Swiss Federal
Council, and DR., Paul Ritter, minister
of Switzerland here, presented a copy
to the State department yesterday.
Secretary Lansing made it public
last night
Translation of Text.
The translated text follows;
The president of the United States
of America, with whom the Swiss
Federal Council guided by its warm
desire that the hostilities may soon
come to an end, has for consider
able time been in touch, had the
kindness to apprise the Federal Coun-
Gil of the peace note sent to the gov
ernments of the central and entente
powers. In this note President Will
son discusses the great desirability Of
international agreements for the pur-
pose of avoiding more effectively and
permanently the occurrence of catas-
trophies such as the one under which
the peoples are suffering today. In
this connection he lays particular
strees on the necessity for bringing
about the end of the present war.
without making peace proposals
himself or offering mediation, he con-
fines himself to sounding as to wheth-
er mankind may hope to have ap-
preached the haven of peace.
Island in Sea of War.
"The most meritorious personal
initiative of President Wilson will find
mighty echo in Switzerland. True
to the obligations arising from OBJ
serving the strictest neutrality, united
by the same friendship with the states
Qf both warning, GROUPS OF. powers,
Situated like an island amidst the
seething waves of the terrible world
war, with its ideal and material in
terests most sensibly jeopardized and
violated, our country is filled with a
deep longing for peace and ready to
assist by its small means to stop the
endless suffering caused by the war,
brought before its eyes by daily con-
tact with the interned, the severely
wounded and those expelled, and to
establish the foundations for bene-
fetal cooperation of the peoples
"The Swiss Federal Council is
therefore glad to seize the oppor-
tunity to support the efforts of the
president of the United States.
at would consider itself happy if it
could act in any, no matter how mod
est way, for the rapproachment Of
the peoples now engaged in the strug-
gle and for reaching lasting peace"
Pope Likes Wilson's Note. I
Rome, Saturday, Dec. 23.-(Via
Paris, Dec. 25.)-Pope Benedict, ac-
cording to report today, in speaking
to Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary
of state, regarding President Will
sons note to the belligerents, said: =
ut is a document showing the
honesty, justice and far sightedness of
the American president"
Sweden Will Also Act.
Paris, Dec. 25-A Havas' dispatch
from Berne says it is believed in
certain circles there that the Swedish
government is about to approach the
belligerents on the subject of peace
in the same way as the Swiss presi-
dent.