Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-12-29
President Wilson Asks Belliger-
ents to State Terms Upon
Which They Will End
the World War.
MESSAGE GOES TO ALL
Dispatched to Central Powers
, and Entente Allies, Who Al
ready Have Indicated VIII
hngness to Give Their
Statements.
western Newspaper Union New, Service.

western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Dec. 21.-President
Wilson's notes to the belligerents
are prefaced with this instruction by
Secretary Lansing to the American
ambassadors presenting them:
1.-THE President directs me to send
you the following communication to
be presented Immediately to the min
listers of foreign affairs of the govern
ment Of which they are accredited"
The texts of the notes themselves
then begin identically as follows:
"The President of the United
States has instructed me to suggest
to the (here inserted a designation Of
the government %addressed) a course of
action with regard to the present war
which we hope that the government
will take under consideration as sug-
gested in the most friendly spirit
and as coming not only from a friend
but also as coming from the repre-
sentative Of a neutral nation whose
interests have been most seriously at-
fected by the war and whose concern
for its early conclusion arises out Of
a manifest necessity to determine
how best to safeguard those interests,
II the war is to continue"
At this point the context varies. In
the notes to the central powers this
paragraph follows next;
THE suggestion which l am in
structed to make, the President has
long had It in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer it at
this particular time because it may
now seem to have been prompted by
a desire to play a part in connection
with the recent overtures of the cen
trail powers. 1t has, in fact, been in
no way suggested by them in its
origin and the President would have
delayed offering it until those over
lures had been independently an
swered but for the fact that it also
concerns the question Of peace and
may best be considered in connection
with other proposals which have the
same end in view. The President can
only beg that his suggestion be con.
sidered entirely on its merits, and as
IL it had been made in other circum.
stances"
In the note to the entente allies
the following paragraph takes the
place of the one Just quoted:
"The suggestion which l am in
structed to make, the President has
long had it in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer it al
this particular time because it may
now seem to have been prompted by
the recent overtures of the centra
powers. 1t is, in fact, in no way asso
ciated with them in it's origin and tn,
President would have delayed offer
ing It until these overtures had beer
answered but for the fact that it alsC
concerns the question of peace anC
may best be considered in connection
with other proposals which have th'
same end in view. The President car
only beg that his suggestion be con
sidered entirely on its own merits
and as If it had been made in othe.
circumstances"
Then all the notes proceed identical
ly as follows:
THE President suggests that al
early occasion be sought to call on
from all the nations now at war sucl
an avowal of their respective views a
to the terms upon which the wa
might be concluded and the arrange
ment which would be deemed salts
factory as a guaranty against its re
newal or the kindling of any simila
conflict in the future as would max
II possible frankly to compare them
HE is Indifferent as to the mean
taken to accomplish this, He wOul
be happy himself to serve, or evel
to take the initiative in its accom-
plishment in any way that nigh
prove acceptable, but he has no dc
sire to determine the method or tn
fundamentally. One way will be a
acceptable to him as another, If onl
the great object he has in mind be al
tanned.
HE takes the liberty of calling a
tention to the fact that the object
which the statesmen of the belligel
ents on both sides have in mind Il
this war are virtually the same, a
MI W.. Ill nanAIAa cauah.