The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-22

Mfnima of Territorial settlements or
Even OF Military Conquest.
Washington. Dec. 20.-President
Wilson has appealed to all the belltg-
erents 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-
gesting that "an early occasion be
sought to call cut 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 a guaranty
against its renewal or the kindling 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 Of
fcials have described as his course.
the president last night dispatched
notes to all the belligerents, and to al!
the neutrals for their information.
Summarized in the presidents own
words as contained in the notes his
attitude is as follows:
"NOt Even Mediation
"The president is not proposing
peace: he is not even offering media
ton. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerents, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all man
kind longs with an intense and in
creasing longing. He believes that
the spirit in which he speaks and the
object which he seeks will be under
stood by all concerned, any. he con-
fidently hopes for response whicn
will bring new light into the affairs
of the world
This latest development in the rap
idly moving world events toward 3
discussion of peace was not permitted
to become known until tonight when
the notes were well on their way to
the American ambassadors in the bel
ligerent capitals and probably already
in the hands of some of them.
1t was most distinct surprise to all
official Washington which had been
led to believe that with the forma!
transmittal of the proposals of the
central powers, the Offices of the Uni
ted States would await further moves
between the beiligerents themselves
and that certainly, in view of the
speech of Premier Lloyd George AID
the announcements in Russia. France
and Italy. additional action by neu-
trails would depend upon the next
careful delicate moves of the bel
ligerents.
Step Toward Peace.
The whole tenor of official opinion
throughout Washington when the
presidents action became known was
that it immeasurably improved the
prospects for some sort of exchanges
looking toward an approach to peace
G.:urssions between the belligerents
without impairing the position of the
United States should they finally be
unable to find a ground on which to
approach one another.
At the White House no statement
whatever could be obtained as to
whether any Of the powers even had
intimated how they would receive the
note and there was every indication
that the same careful secrecy which
prevented anything whatever becom-
ing known about the presidents ac-
ton until it had been taken would
surround any of the succeeding
moves.
Nowhere on the surface appears
any indication of the history making
events which diplomats generally
are convinced must have happened
since the German allies brought forth
their proposals to dispeI the gener-
ally prevalent belief that such an ac-
ton or the part of President Viii
son would be unacceptable to the en-
tente powers.
British embassy officials declared
they we're utterly taken by surprise
we're wholly unable to explain it. and
we're emphatic in their declarations
+hat no exchanges whatever had pass.
Cd through the embassy here as t
n"eiiminary.