The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-21

Salient points from President Will
sons note addressed to neutrals and
belligerents suggesting that peace
conference be held follow:
"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
a guaranty against its renewal or the
kindling of any similar conflict in the
future as would make it possible
frankly to compare with it. He is in
different as to the means taken to ac-
complish 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 no desire to determine the
method or the instrumentality. One
way will be as acceptable to him as
another if only the great object he
has in mind be attained.
"He takes the liberty of calling at
tention to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen of the belliger-
ents 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 prlvl-
leges of weak peoples and small states
as secure against aggression or denial
in the future as the rights and privi-
leges of the great and powerful states
now at 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 jeal-
Gus of the formation of any more rival
leagues to preserve an uncertain bal
ance of power amidst multiplying sus-
picions; but each is ready to consider
the formation of league Of nations
to insure peace and justice throughout
the world Before that final step can
be taken. however, each deems it
necessary first to settle the issues of
the present war upon terms which will
certainly safeguard the independence,
the territorial integrity and the polit-
ical and commercial freedom of the
nations Involved,
- 1sIn the measures to be taken to Sc
cure the future peace of the world,
the people and government of the
United States are as vitality and as
directly interested as the govern
ments now at war. Their interest,
in the means to be adopted
to relieve the smaller and weaker
peoples of the world of the peril Of
wrong and violence is as quick and
ardent as that of any other people
or government. They stand ready,
and even eager, to cooperate in the
of these ends, when
the war Is over, with every influence
and resource at their command. But
the war must first be concluded. The
terms upon which it is to be conclud-
ed they are not at liberty to suggest;
but the president does feel that it is
his right and duty to point out their
intimate interest in its conclusion,
lest it should presently be too late to
accomplish the greater things which
lie beyond it's conclusion, lest the sit
uation of neutral nations. now exceed
ingly hard to endure, be rendered al
together intolerable, and lest. more
than all, an injury be done civilization
itself which can never be atoned for
or repaired
"The president, therefore, feels al
together justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for compari-
son of views as to the terms which
must precede those ultimate arrange
ments for the peace of the world,
which all desire and in which the neu.
trail nations as we'll as those at war
are ready to play their full responsible
part.
1T may be that peace is nearer
than we know; that the terms which