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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL 17, NO. 1
Lincoln, Nebraska, January, 1917
Whole Number 693
President Wilson Sends Appeal for Peace
A Washington, D. C, dispatch, dated Dec. 20,
gays: The texts of Communications sent by the
President's direction to each group of combat
ants were madd public tonight.
The notes to tho belligerents are prefaced with
this instruction by Secretary Lansing to tho
American ambassadors presentinj them:
"The President directs me to send you the
following communication to be presented imme
diately to the minister of foreign affairs of the
government to which you are accredited."
The texts of the notes themselves then begin
identically as follows:
"The President of the United States has in
structed me to suggest to the here is inserted
a designation of the government addressed a
course of action with regard to the" present war
which he hopes that the government will take
under consideration!, as suggested in the most
friendly spirit and as coming not only from a
l friend but also as coming from the represent
ative of a neutral nation .whose interests have
been most seriously effected by the war and
whose concern for its early conclusion arises out
of a manifest necessity to determine how best to
safeguard those interests if the war is to con
tinue. At this point the texts vary. In the notes to
the Central powers this paragraph follows next:
"The suggestion which I am ' instructed to
make the President has long had in mind to
offer. He is sfimewhat embarrassed to offer it
at this partiaular tinre because it may now seem
to have been prompted by a desire to play a part
in connection with the recent overtures of the
Central powers. It has, in fact, been in no way
suggested by them in its origin, and tho Pres
ident would have delayed offering it until those
overtures had been independently answered but
for the fact that it also concernBfae question of
peace, and may best be considered Mn comrftction
with other "proposals which have the same end
in view. The President can only beg that his
suggestion be considered ontirely on its own
merits and as if it had been made in other, cir
cumstances." SUGGESTION NOT' PROMPTED BY CENTRAL
POWERS
In the note to tho Entente allies the following
paragraph takes the place of the one just quoted:
"Tho suggestion wh'ch I am Instructed to
make the President has long had It in mjnd to
offer. He is somewhat embarrassed to offer it
at this particular time because it may now seem
to have been prompted by the recent overtures
of the Central powers, it is, in fact, in no way
associated with them-in its origin, and tho Pres
ident would, have delayed offering it until those
overtures had been answered but for the fact
that it also concerns tho question of peace and
may best be considered in connection with other
proposals which have the same end in view. Tho
President can only bog that his suggestion bo
considered entirely on its own merits and as if it
had beon made in other circumstances."
Then all the notes proceed identically as fol
lows: "The President suggests that an early occas
sion be sought to call out from all tho nations
now at war such an avowal of their respective ,
views as to tho terms upon which the war might
be concluded and the arrangements which would '
bo deemed satisfactory as a guaranty against its
renewal or tho kindling of nny similar conflict
in tho futuro ao "nrould malso It pocalblo frankly
to compare them. He is indifferent as to tho
means taken to accomplish this. He would bo
happy himself to serve, or oven to take the in
itiative in its accomplishment, in any -way that
might prove acceptable; but ho has no desire to
determine the method or the instrumentality.
One way will be as acceptable to him as another
if only the great object he has in mind be at
tained. "He takes tho liberty of calling attention to
the fact that the objects which the statesmen of
the belligerents on both sides have in mind in
this war are virtually the same, as utated in gen
eral terms to their own people and to tho world.
Each side desires to make tho rights and priv
ileges of weak peoples and small states as se
cure against aggression or denial in the future
as the rights and privileges of tho great and
powerful states now at war. Each wishes itself
to be made secure in the future, along with all
other nations and peoples, against the recurrence
' of wars like this and against aggression of sel
fish interference of any kind. Each would bo
jealous of tho formation of any more rival
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT WILSON SENDS APPEAL
FOR PEACE
BEGINNING OP THE END
"PREMATURE" PEACE
SENATE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT'S AP
PEAL FOR PEACE
THE PRESIDENT'S PEACE NOTE
A WORD OF WARNING
NOW FOR LIQUOR LEGISLATION
TO THE GOVERNORS AND LEGISLA
TURES OF THE VARIOUS STATES
THE PROPOSED RETURN TO BAR
BARISM MR BRYAN OPPOSES EXCLUSIVE FED
ERAL CONTROL OF RAILROADS
WASHINGTON BANQUET TO MR. BRYAN
leagues to preservo' an uncertain balance of
power araidBt multiplying suspicions; but each
1b ready to considor tho formation of a league or
nations to insure pence and Juatlco throughout
tho world. Beforo that final step can bo taken,
however, each deems it necessary first to sottle
tho issues of tho present war upon terms which
will cortainly safeguard tho independonco, tho
territorial integrity and tho political and com
mercial freedom of tho nations involved.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPARISON OF
VIEWS
"In the measures to bo taken to secure the
future peace of the world the peoplo and govern
ment of the United States are as vitally and an
directly interested as the governments now at
war. Their interest, moreover, in tho means Jto
Jbe adopted to relievo the smaller and weaker
peoples of the world of IhVporll of wrong and
-jviolcnco 16 ao quick and ardent as that of any
other peoplo or government. They stand ready,
and even eager, to co-operate In tho accomplish
ment of these ends, when the war Is over, with
every influence and resource at their command.
But tho war must first bo concluded. Tho terms
upon which it Is to be concluded they are not at
liberty to suggest; but the President does feel
that It is his right and his duty to point out
their intimate interest in its conclusion, lest it
should presently bo too Into to accomplish the
greater things which lie beyond, lest tho situa
tion of neutral nations, now exceedingly hard to
endure, be rendered altogether intolerable, and
lest, more than all, an injury bo dono civiliza
tion itself which can never be atoned for or re
paired. . '.
"The President therefore, feels altogether
justified In suggesting an immediate opportunity
for a comparison of views as to the torms which
must precede those ultimate arrangements t for
tho peace of JJthe world, which all deslro and in
which the neutral nations as well as" those at
war are ready to play their full responsible part.
"If the contest must continue to proceed to
ward undefined ends by slow attrition until the
one group of belligerents or the other is ex
hausted, if million after million of human Uvea
must continue to bo offered up urtil on tho ono
side or the other thero are no more to offer,
resentments must be kindled that can never cool
and despairs ongendered from which there can
be no recovery, hopes of peace and of the willing
concert of free peoples will be rendered vain1 and
idle.
1
"The life of the entire world has been pro
foundly affected. Every part of the gVeat fam
ily of mankind has felt the burden and! terror of
this unprecedented contest of arms. Tft nation
in tho civilized world can be said In truth 'tt
stand outside its influence or to be safe aealnarf
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