Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-01
OF
WILSON LETTER URGED
knowledge of Presidents S
Views In Neutral Nations
WOuld Help Allied Cause

Washington, Feb. I.-Publication in
neutral countries of President Wilson g
letter to the United Press would do
much toward sharpening the sympathies
of these neutrals toward the cause of
the United States, members of congress
and diplomats declared today.
Characterizing the letter as can ad-
mirable stroke toward cementing more
firmly the friendship of the sister re-
publics in South America with the I'm.
tied States" Chairman Flood of the
house foreign relations committee today
said:
''The president has spoken again in
typicalIy clear statement the motives
OF this country. 1t should prove con-
vincing to those neutrals who have seen
and experienced the unjustifiable acts
of Germany. 1t should prove tremen-
dous factor in swinging them to the
cause of the allies.
1.-THE statement should prove to
South America that this country will
do nothing except for the mutual good
of the democracies of the Americas. "
The president s statement blasts the
German plant that this nation was
waging war with selfish motives and
attempting to embroil neutrals with
selfish aims" said Majority Leader
Kitchin of the house.
Republican House Leader Gillett de-
clared that "these are certainly prin-
ciples which every liberty loving man
must agree with, and should be most
reassuring to the neutrals."
''The statement should again reas.
sure the world and particularly the
neutrals of the high motives of the
United States in entering the war"
Representative Gard, Ohio, declared. 81
believe it will have most desirable
effect on those few neutrals that prob
ably were not yet convinced of the
absolute unselfishness of the United
States
Meyer London, New York, the only
socialist in congress, declared:
Nothing better could be said. The |
president gives a code of ethics which
l hope viii become the code of ethics
for all international dealings"
South American and Mexican diplo-
matte officials were enthusiastic in
their reception of the president s dec.
laratiOn, published here.
They, too, believed that it would clear
the decks for more sympathetic un-
between the Pan American
republics and this country.
Tue statement, coming from the
highest and most respected statesman
III America, will sorse to create con-
FItence in the Umtrl States among {
Latin American nations" klat assador
Lns EtMillas of Mexico 0eol;rcd.
1t Will create lasting Impression
n Me. leo, where, despite the assurances
# the American state department. and
he Carranza government. thers yet lin
;erS dlstrust as to the motives Of the
-'nited States.
am sure that the Mexican govern
fent will warmly welcome the presi-
lent IS words.'
European neutrals, Sweden, Norway,
toiland and Denmark, while unofficial
welcoming the president s stand,
'ere loath to comment. The northern
eutrals until recently looked upon
lany of the president s statements as
playing to the gallery" They have
cen unable to harmonize the stand this
ountry took for the ''rights ot neu-
rails, " before becoming invoked in
he var, with its subsequent actions.
As neutrals, they refused to comment,
ut personally, virtually and heartily
ndorsed the president 5 ideas.
Discussing the presidents 5 neutrality
'tter, Vice President Marshall declar-
1 in an address made to Delaware Ma
ms:
. told them that the greatest thing
lat the Masons could do for their coun-
y at this time was to cultivate thru
leir lodges in Central and South AM
-ica a warm feeling for the United |
tates to meet in this way the German
and to let the peoples there
now the truth about the real feeling
the United States toward all self
'verning peoples and our real purpose
waging this war which was not for
f-aggrandizement but solely to pro-
ote international justice which can 81
lily be prompted by recognizing the 81
ghts of small, as well as of powerful Sc