The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-01-05
POINTS IN WILSON
NOTE OVERLOOKED
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-
emf Powers.

ent Powers.
Paris, Jan. 1.-The allies answer to
the German note Of December y is
long and sets forth again the respOn-
Sibility of the central empires for the
European confiagratiOn. 1t insists on
legitimate reparation 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 pourparIers.
Berlin, Jan. lit was authorita-
lively stated here that President Will
son sent two peace notes to Germany.
The second note, 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-
tatively 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 ,as aroused most COM
ment, and the first was emphasized by
Secretary Lansings statement, after
ward modified, that the United States
itself might be drawing near entrance
into the war.
Would Assure 7 rms Being Kept.
The administration, however, it 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 seri-
Gus peace discussion.
If such an arrangement could be
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 WA 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 a
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 un-
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 1t 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
mcnts authorized the day the note was
published. II IL known that these
statements were transmitted 20 the
American diplomats to ncpuulnt them
fully with whit had taken place here.
but that they were not Instructed ia
present them TO the various foreign
offices.