View source for Spanish Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, December 30, 1916

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'''Spanish Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, December 30, 1916<sup>1</sup>'''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His Majesty's Government has received through your embassy a <br>
copy of the note which the President of the United States has pre- <br>
sented to the belligerent powers, expressing the desire that an early <br>
opportunity should be sought for obtaining from all the nations now <br>
at war a declaration as to their intentions so far as regards the bases <br>
upon which the conflict might be terminated. This copy is accompanied <br>
by another note, signed by yourself, and dated December 22, in which <br>
your embassy, in accordance with the instructions of your Govern- <br>
ment, says, in the name of the President, that the moment seems to <br>
be opportune for action on the part of his Majesty's Government, <br>
and that it should, if it thinks fit, support the attitude adopted by <br>
the Government of the United States. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With regard to the reasonable desire manifested by the latter Gov- <br>
ernment to be supported in its proposition in favor of peace, the Gov-<br>
ernment of his Majesty, considering that the initiative has been <br>
taken by the President of the North American Republic, and that the <br>
diverse impressions which it has caused are already known, is of <br>
opinion that the action to which the United States invites Spain <br>
would not have efficacy, and the more so because the Central Em- <br>
pires have already expressed their firm intention to discuss the con- <br>
ditions of peace solely with the belligerent powers. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fully appreciating that the noble desire of the President of the <br>
United States will always merit the gratitude of all nations, the Gov- <br>
ernment of his Majesty is decided not to dissociate itself from any <br>
negotiation or agreement destined to facilitate the humanitarian work <br>
which will put an end to the present war, but it suspends its action, <br>
reserving it for the moment when the efforts of all those who desire <br>
peace will be more useful and efficacious than is now the case, if there <br>
should then be reasons to consider that its initiative or its intervention <br>
would be profitable. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Until that moment arrives the Government of his Majesty regards <br>
it as opportune to declare that in all that concerns an understanding <br>
between the neutral powers for the defense of their material interests <br>
affected by the war, it is disposed now, as it has been since the begin- <br>
ning of the present conflict, to enter into negotiations which may tend <br>
toward an agreement capable of uniting all the non-belligerent powers <br>
which may consider themselves injured or may regard it as necessary <br>
to remedy or diminish such injuries.<br>

<hr>
<sup>1</sup><i>Current History</i>, New York, February, 1917, p. 792.