Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-27
White House Lets 1t Be Known
BelIigerents Are Expected to
Leave Way Open For
Negotiations.
WILSON SEES A WAY OUT
Hopes to Become a Clearing
House For Views and Pos
sibly Terms Of War
ring Powers.

Washington. d. G.. Dec. 23.-With
the purpose of President Wilson'S note
to the belligerents clarified by official
statements on the subject. the atten-
ton OF the United States has turned t
the reception of the tote in the foreign
capitals.
Diplomats here We're early watching
for Indications of whether the European
neutrals will follow the lead of tho
United States and make Il similar ap-
peal to the warning powers.
There is growing feeling that tho
United States hopes to become the
clearing house for views and possibly
Tor terms of the ~be1ligerents. Several
of the diplomats have advised their
governments to that effect in order to
guide them i'm their replies.
Surprise at the fast growing signifi-
canoe OF the presidents move was ex-
pressed on all sides. where 1t was
pointed out that at first the opinion
prevailed that the note itself was
merely a "feeler" and tina the most
suing it was the receipt of some sort of
definition of the desire of the warning
nations.
Expect Frank Reply.
hat the president should let 1t be
known Indirectly to the diplomats for
their guidance tina he went even fur
ther than that and counted OH an alb
solutely frank reply from the belliger-
ents which would lead to an actual OPP
portunity for negotiations. proved only
itself.
This feeling was increased by Secre-
tary I-ansing's statement yesterday
THAT no soundings had been taken of
the attitude of the bclligerents, and
that the note had been sent regardless
OIL the central nnWnrSs nrOnnSo1S or nf
the reply of Lloyd George.
The question very much to the fore
today was whether the European neu-
trails would present a united appeal.
The Spanish and Swiss representatives
here have been at The state department
repeatedly since those proposals came
out and probably know fully the plans
of this government.
III is pointed out that the European
neutrals have suffered beyond any 9TH
er nations not actually involved in the
war and that peace Is more essential
to them tina to any but the actual bel
llgerents. In addition, they have none
of the bitterness of war and none of
its ambitions and are anxious more for
the coming of peace than for the ac-
complishment of any other purpose.
Nevertheless their geographical posi-
ton between the two contendinc forces
has been so dangerous that up to now
they have been able to do no more
than maintain their neutrality, without
mixing in the struggle even TO suggest
peace.
ring powers. American diplomats, fol-
lowing their Instructions, are aking
sounding and observing closely the
currents of sentiment of the different
governments.
Public Approves Move.
The American public generall: and
congress and officialdom approve the
sending of the mnniC1
Nentrals show a strong disposition to
approve it. and 1T is felt here they
Will take encouragement from it.
Though press comment in British
quarters reveals that the communica-
ton has produced an impression not
altogether favorable it is not here in
dictated that the entente will make a
less favorable reply toward Germany
than otherwise or that il will refuse to
leave the door open for Germany to
send a second note.
Though LansinG's explanation Of his
statement emDers bis original declara.
ton that the country is drawing nearer
the verge of war, il does not alter the
fact that the president and secretary
OF state fear continuance of the wal
Will cause gr2ver ana graVel cOmpli-
cations for the United States, and that
they feel the United States as the
leading neutral has the right to urge
that a move be made toward bringing
the beL.gefentS together.
Gradual Qualification among the. en-
tente diplomats here Of the presidents
purpose. and Indications that they
would advise their governments to re-
ply in a friendly spirit. proved a source
of deep qualification today, as it was
pointed out both in the note itself and
in Secretary L"::,!ns's explanation that
n of the dlnsers was that the allies
would consider the step as a pro-
German move. Every effort WAS made
to remove this impression and to have
the note considered entirely apart from
any other events. The entente diplO-
mats, at first very fearful, have now
accepted this view.
Note Reaches Berlin.
Charge Grew, reported TO the state
department today that the p~resident's
peace note had been received in Berlin
Early London press that
the note was painful because it said
he objects of the belligerents were
practically the same. was not unex-
pected here. where attention has al.
ready been drawn to the fact that
President Wilson specifically declared.
that the published views of the oppOs.
ing statesmen left that impression.
It is stated officially that the preHi.
dent would not presume to say that the,
two groups We're fighting for h same
object. but merely that their official
spOkesmen had outlined much the
same general program without going