The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-01-12

Washington Surprised Sugges-
ton to Preserve Peace Did
Not Win Attention.
ASSURES KEEPING OF TERMS
Secretary Lansing Refuses to Comment
on Report That Second Note Had
Been Sent to the BeIIig-
ent Powers.

IuTlS, Jan. Line allies answer 10
the German note of December II is
long and sets forth again the respon-
siblIity of the central empires for the
European confagration. 1t insists on
legitimate repatriation and restitution
demanded by the entente as outlined
by Premier Lloyd-George, and also
says that Germany by failing to formu-
late proposals for peace removes in
advance any basis for pourparlers.
Berlin, Jan. lit Mas authOrita-
lively stated here that President VIII
son sent two peace notes TO Germany.
The second note. a confidential paper,
was received shortly after the first.
which was made public, it was said.
1t was reported also that James w.
Gerard, the American Ambassador,
sent long confidential report to Pres
ident Wilson shortly after his recent
conference with DR.. Alfred thinner
mann, the German foreign secretary.
Washington, Jan. 1.-The American
government, it became known authori-
tatiyely today, believes there are three
principal points In its note to the bel
hgerents, and is surprised that they
have not been more clearly understood,
particularly by the press of the en-
tente allies. These points, taken in
their order of Importance from the adj
ministration viewpoint, are:
The fear that the position of neu-
trail nations be rendered altogether in
tolerable" if the war continues.
The suggestion that arrangements be
made as a guaranty against similar
conflicts in the future
The proposal that means be found
for comparing the concrete peace terms
of both sides.
The last point has aroused most COM
ment, and the first was emphasized by
Secretary Lansing's statement, after
ward modified, that the United States
itself might Ne drawing near entrance
into the war.
Would Assure Terms Being Kept.
The administration, however, Ii was
learned, thought the suggestion for an
arrangement to preserve peace In the
future would attract more attention
among the entente allies than it appa-
rently has, and furnish means
through which these nations could en-
ter with perfect propriety into a seri-
Gus peace discussion.
made, the administration feels. there
would be no ground for the fear that
agreements over terms made between
the belligerents would not be kept af-
ter the present war ends. 1t was point
ed out today that such fear has been
one of the main objections of the en-
tente allies to entering into peace dis
cuSSiOnS.
Secretary Lansing refused to COM
ment in any way on the report that Il
second explanatory note had been sent
both to the central powers and the en-
tente allies to correct misinterpreta-
tons of the presidents note calling for
peace terms. He indicated that I'M
der the recent policy of silence adopt
ed by President Wilson and himself
In the peace negotiations, he would
make no statement either affirming or
denying such reports. 1t is felt that
much misunderstanding might arise in
the popular mind, but it is held that
the various governments addressed will
be influenced only by the official infor-
nation which will be quite complete.
Secretary Lansing also refused to in
dictate whether he thought the Ber-
lin report might have arisen out of the
sending abroad for the information of
American diplomats of his two state
ments authorized the day the note was
published. Ii is known that these
statements were transmitted to the
American diplomats to acquaint them
fully with what had taken place here.
but that they were not instructed TO
present them to the various foreign
offices.
May Be Lansing Statement.
Secretary Lansing has been most en-
phatic ever since his two statements