Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-20
|(IlAlVzATOLD
y. s. WON'T JOIN
N PEACE PLANS
Scheme to Stop Arms Ship
ments Turned Down
Squarely
NOTE ASSAILS GERMANS
WASHINGTON. March 20.

~ WASHINGTON, March 90.
q The United States has squarely, although
m courteous language, rejected the sugges-
tion Of General Carranza, Presideat-elect of
4 Mexico, that the neutral nations demand
that the European war participants shall
end the war at once. or. II they do not do
< 10. that all neutrals shall unite to cut off
supplies of all sorts to them.
# In making public that decision, in a let
= Ter to General Carranza Secretary of State
lansing takes occasion to arraign German
diplomacy bitterly for its abuse of the lib
critics and privileges freely accorded to 1t
on American soil and under American pro-
ftection."
Modification from the present methods of
commerce by the United States would not
be in accordance with the principles of in
ternational law, the Secretary says further
Secretary Lansing takes occasion all
through the note to pay tribute to the
Ysslofty purposes" of General Carranza. The
text of the note sent to General Carranza's
Foreign Minister is as follows:
department of State, Washington, D. c..
March IS, 1917.
'Sir--I have to request that you will have
The kindness to transmit to the President
elect of the Mexican Republic the followin,
reply to the communication Of February II,
1917 addressed by him to you, with in
htructions to deliver it to the Government
of the United States.
I'm his note of February II, 1917. The
President-eect proposes to all the neutral
Governments that the groups of contending
Powers Gin the present European connict)
be invited, in common accord and on the
basis of absolutely perfect equality on either
side, to bring this war to an end either by
their own effort or by availing themselves
of the good offices or friendly mediation Of
all the countries which would Jointly ex-
tend that invitation. If within a reasonable
time peace could not be restored by these
thn tral ria
take necessary measures to reduce the con-
Migration to its narrowest limit, by refuS-
ing any kind of implements to the bellig-
erents and suspendng commercial relations
with the warning nations until the said
conf1agration shall have been smothered.'
'The Government of the United States has
given careful and sympathetic consideration
to the proposals of the de facto Govern
ment, not only because they come from a
neighboring republic in whose welfare and
Friendship the United States has a peculiar
and permanent interest but because these
proposals have for their end the object
which the President had hoped to attain
from his discussion few months ago of the
aims of the belligerents and their purposes
IN the war. OF the futile results of the
Presidents efforts at that time General
Carranza is no doubt aware.
Instead of the conflict being resolved
into a discussion of terms of peace the
Struggle both on land and on sea has been
renewed with intensified vigor and bitter
ness To such an extent has one group of
bellgerents carried warfare on the high
seas involving the destruction of American
ships and the lives of American citizens in
oontraventon of the pledges heretofore
oolemnly given the Government of the
United States, that 1t was deemed neces-
sary within the last few weeks to sever re-
lations with one of the great allied Central
Powers.
t ITO render the situation still more acute
the Government of the United States has
unearthed a plot. laid by the Government
Nominating the Central Powers to embroil
not only the Government and people of
Mexico, but also the Government and people
of Japan In war with the United States At
the time this plot was conceived the United
States was at peace with the Government
and people of the German Empire. and
German officials and German subjects were
not only enjoying but abusing the liberties
and privileges freely accorded to them on
: American soil and under American protec-
ton.
The President regrets, therefore, that
however desirous he may be of co-operat-
ing with General Carranza in finding a
solution of the world problem that is in
truding itself upon all countries, he il
for the reasons set forth unable at tn
present time to direct his energies toward
the accomplishment of the lofty purposes
Of the President-elect in the way suggested
by his proposals.
"The President would not be understood.
however as desiring to impede the progress
Of a movement leading to the resumption of
peacefu relations between all of the bel
iieerents and would not therefore. wish
the Mexican Government to feel that his
inability to act in the present stage of a
I fairs should in any way initiate against
the attainment of the high ideals of Cen
eraI Carranza by the cooperation of other
neutral governments in the use of their
good offices and friendly mediation to bring
about the end of the terrible war which is
being waged between the great powers OF
Europe
II am. etc. ROBERT LANSING"