The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-02
Nature Of Ally Reply to Will
son to Be Similar to That
Sent Germany.
PRESIDENT CONFERS
WITH SENATOR STONE
Mystery of Clause in Spanish
Note Is Explained by u.
S. Officials.

Washington, Jan. President Will
son late today went to the capitol and
spent an hour discussing the countrys
foreign affairs with Senator stone,
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee. Their talk covered a wide
range but it is understood that much
OF the time was devoted to the situa-
ton growing out of the unfavorable
entente reply to the peace proposals of
the central powers.
Aside from transmitting the en-
tente note to Germany and her allies,
the United States will take no further
formal action in the peace movement,
at least until the entente governments
have replied to the communication of
president Wilson addressed to them.
II the note to the Teutonic nations had
been forwarded tonight the state de-
partment did not disclose the fact.
Pessimism Dominant
Cable reports from Paris, announc-
ing that the entente answer to Presi-
dent Wilson had been prepared and
would be the same in effect as that to
the belligerents, did not increase hope
here for favorable outcome of the
negotiations 1t is known that the
German embassy believes that unless
the note to President Wilson opens
the door for a further advance by its
government. the war will go on another
year at least.
So far as could be learned, the presi-
dent. during his visit today to Sena-
tor Stone. sought no action from con-
sress relating to the peace movement
Afterward. however, it was learned
that administration leaders in the SEN
ate were preparing to sound sentiment
on resolutions introduced Just before
the holiday adjournment, which would
declare it to be the sense of the SEN
ate that the action of the president in
addressing his note to the belligerent
powers represented "the overwhelming
public sentiment and earnest desires
Of the people of the United States"
introduced by Hitchcock.
Senator Hitchcock submitted two
resolutions on the subject on success
sive days one of which was referred to
the committee on foreign relations and
the other permitted to lie on the sem
ate table where it is in order to be
called up for action tomorrow.
Senator Stone tonight urged Sena-
tor Hitchcock to ask tomorrow that the
resolution lie over for a day in order
that there might be conference of
senators on both sides of the chamber
regarding it. Senator stone frankly
stated that he was heartily in favor of
adopting the resolution
The president, it was learned, dis
cussed many phases Of foreign prob
lens with Senator Stone, including the
Mexican, situation.
Mystery Is Explained.
During the day an explanation was
obtained from official sources Of the
previous mysterious clause in the note
from Spain to the United States refer
ring to another communication" from
the American government, suggesting
that the time was opportune for Spain
to cooperate with the United States.
1t was learned authoritatively that no
note was sent to neutral nations, but
that in forwarding copies of the presi-
dents suggestions to the belligerents,
the state department instructed Ameri
can diplomats in the neutral capitals
to intimate to the governments to
which they were accredited that in
case they were considering move
similar to that of the United States,
the American government considered
the time opportune.
1t was stated emphatically that in
making this move the United States
had no intention of urging neutral ma
tions to act, or to set on foot move
ment for an entente of neutral nations
Sought Qualification.
In explanation of this point it was
stated that the primary purpose of the
presidents note to the belligerents was
to clear the atmosphere on the big
questions relating to the war and that
in this connection the American gov
ernment thought it would be helpful if
the opinion of neutrals, as well as the
belligerents, were explained. 1t was
reiterated that President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing. did not look upon
the American note to the belligerents
primarily as a peace note. One reason
for interest in the attitude of othe,