The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-21
Won Bernstorff at Loss to Ex-
plain Presidents Note
See Hope for Conference
Soon.
NATION IS SURPRISED
Even Official Circles Had no
lntimation OF Wilson's Plea
for Discussion of Terms by
Belligerents.

WASHINGTON. Dec 21.-Distinct
surprise was apparent among diplo-
matte officials in Washington TODAY
over President Wilson's plea to Europ
can belligerents to discuss peace
terms.
publication today of the note. fin
ished Monday and dispatched Tuesday
to American diplomatic representa-.
yves abroad. gave most officials the
flrst notice that such a step was even
contemplated at this time.
Opinion here inclined toward the
view that the action would give strong
encouragement to some sort of ex.
changes which might result in discuss.
ION OF definite peace terms between
the belligerents. 1t was believed fur
ther that since the president seeks
only clarification of peace views and
does not offer mediation. the United
States Will not be placed in an en-
barrassing position II the European
nations should be unable finally to
develop a basis on which to approach
each other
Officials of the British embassy de-
clared they were wholly unable to ex-
plain the action.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador said:
Nov I am perfectly convinced that
there will be conference" He NAV
confer with Secretary Lansing today.
The danger of the United States it.
self being drawn into the war, by rea.
son of its increasingly critical posi-.
tion as a neutral. was one of the
moving considerations in President
Wilson's dispatch of notes to all the
belligerents urging them to discuss
terms of peace.
Secretary Lansing today authorized
the statement that the material right
of the United States had not been the
paramount consideration. Americas
rights, he said, were being more and
more envolved by the belligerents
and as the United States was draw
ing nearer the verge of war" it was
entitled to know exactly what each
bellfgerent seeks.
I'm order that We may regulate our
conduct in the future
Lansing Issues Statement"
oSStStdly LduSluS STATEMENT 1Ol-
lows:
"The reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows:
ut Is not our material interest we
had In mind when the note was sent,
but more and more our own rights
are becoming envolved by the bellig-
erents on both sides, so that the situa-
tfon is becoming increasingly critical.
Il mean by that, that we are draw
ing near the verge of war ourselves
and therefore We are entitled to know
exactly what each belligerent seeks
in order that we may regulate our
conduct in the future.
No Nation Sounded Out
mo nation has been sounded. No
consideration of the German overtures
or of the speech of Lloyd George was
taken into account in the formulation
of the document. The only thing the
overtures did was to delay it a few
days. 1t was not decided to send It
until Monday. OF course, the difficult
ties that face the president were that
it might be construed as a movement
toward peace and in aid of the Ger
man overtures. He specifically denies
that that was the fact in the document
itself.
"The sending of this note will indi- /
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