The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-08-23
remain neutral.

remain neutral
Il war In this frame of mind. fear.
ing we might be draw into the war
II II did not coon come 10 an end,
that the President began the prepara.
tion OF hls note. asking the belliger-
ent powers to define their war aims.
But before he completed Il. the world
was surprised by the peace move OF
the German Coyernment--an ldentic-
al note on behalf OF the German Em-
pire, Austra-Hungary, Bulgaria and
Turkey. sent through neutral powers
on December i2 1919. TO tho govern
ments OF the Allies, proposing negot-
iations for peace. while expressing
tho Wish TO tho end this war-"a
catastrophe which thousands OF years
OF common civilization was unable to
prevent and which Injuries the most
precious achievement OF humanity
the greater portion OF the note was
couched In terms that gave small
hope OF alasting peace. Boosting OF
German conquests. "the glorious
deeds of-6ur armies" the note Inn
planted In neutral minds the belief
that II war the purpose OF the Imper-
lal German Government to Insist up
on such conditions as would leave all
Central Europe under German do
minanco ard 80 built up an Empire
which would menace the whole liber-
al world.
Moreover, the German proposal
was accompanied by thinly velled
threat 10 all neutral nations: and
from a thousand sources. Official and
unofficial. the word came TO Wash
ington that unless the neutrals used
their influence TO bring the war TO an
end on terms dicated from Berlin.
Germany and her allies would consid-
o. themselves henceforth free from
any obligations TO respect the rightA
OF neutrals. The Kaiser ordered the
neutrals TO exert pressure on the
Entente 10 bring the war 20 an abrupt
end. OF 10 beware OF the consequences.
Clear warning we're brought TO our
Government that II the German peace
move should not be successful. the
submarines would be unleashed for a
more intense and ruthless war upon
all commerce
on the 18Th OF December, the Pres
ident dispatched his note to all the
belligerent powers. asking them TO
define their war aims. There was
still hope in our minds that the
mutual suspicious between the war
Ping powers might be decreased. and
the menace OF future Grman aggres-
sion and dominance he removed. by
fihding a guaranty Of good faith In
a League OF Nations There was a
chance that by creation of league as
part OF the peace negotiations; the
war could now be brought 10 an end |
before our Nation was involved. Two
issued to the press by our
Secretary OF State. upon the day the
note was dispatched. threw clear
light on the seriousness with which
our Government viewed the crisis.
From this point. events moved rap
idly. The powers OF the Entente re-
piled to the German peace note. Neu-
trail nations took action on the note
Df the President and from both bel
Iigerents replied 10 this note were
soon In our hands.
The German reply was eyasive-
in accord with their traditional pre-
Iormances for Diplomacy behind clos
ID doors. Refusing 10 state TO the
world their terms Germany and her
allies merely proposed a conference
rhey adjourned all discussion OF any
plan for a league OF peace until after
hostilities should end
The response OF the Entente Pow
srs was frank and In harmony with
our principal purpose. Many Ques-
lions raised IN the statement OF their
aims were 80 purely European in
character as TO have small interests !