Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-17
CHANCES OF
PEACE NOW
Seem remote.
Wide Gulf Separates Terms Propos-
ed by Allies and
Turks.
UNITED STATES MAY AID
Is Only Great Power Which Would
Be Acceptable as
Mediator.
UNITED STATES MAY AID

London, Dec. 17.-The prelimin-
aries of the peace conference were
completed yesterday and apparently
the Greek difficulty regarding the
signing of the armistice has been
surmounted. Everything is in readi-
ness for the actual negotiations to
begin today.
So wide is the divergence of the
claims of the respective Balkan al
lies and Turkey that there is little
prospect of an early termination of
the conference Moreover, Christ
mas, when no sittings will be held,
will mean the loss of a couple of
days.
The Turkish and Bulgarian dele
gates had another prolonged infor-
NAL meeting at o'clock last even
ing at which it is reported they dis
cussed Adrianople.
The first encounter between the
allies and the Turks will come to-
day. A climax will be reached
when both sides exchange their re-
spective propositions for the conclu-
sion of peace. III
A comparison of the terms of the
allies with those of Turkey is suf-
ficient to show the immense gulf
separating them.
Even admitting that many con-
cessions are made on both sides, an
ultimate understanding appears ex-
| tremely difficult. Because OF this
the idea Of mediation has been put
forward. All the delegates, howey.
| er, declare emphatically that they
know nothing about mediation, and
that it is extraneous to their mis-
sion here, which is limited to the
negotiation of peace, without even
the power Of concluding it. For the
conclusion of peace either they OF
others must receive the AUTHORIZE
ton of their respective govern
ments.
The delegates did not refuse to
discuss the question unofficially, and
remarked that it would be impossi-
BILE for Russia or Austria to medi-
ate, as both of these powers are too
interested in the settlement one way
or another; nor could Germany, be-
cause she is bound to Austria. nor
could Italy because of the recent war
between that country and Turkey.
There only remained England and
France which might be acceptable
to both parties, but their selection
might give umbrage to Germany
and Austria.
American Ambassador Rockhill,
representing country without ter
ritorial or other aspirations in the
Ottoman empire, was the main in
strument in convincing the porte of
the uselessness of resistance and the
advisability of coming to terms with
Italy.
The conference of the ambassa-
doris which will begin today, is call
ed among diplomats "the clearing
house," as they are expected to
agree on many questions which have
arisen through the new situation in
the Balkans. These questions will
then be practically solved when they
come up for discussion at the future
conference when the new map Of
eastern Europe will be definitely set
tied.
1t was pointed out that the only
great power disinterested and i'm
partial is the United States and that
if it were impossible to bring about
something of the same Intervention
which in 1906 led to the Portsmouth
and the conclusion OF
peace between Japan and Russia,
this might lead to actual mediation.
This would not be the first time
that action on the part of the Unit
ed States has made itself felt in a
matter concerning Turkey. Unoffic-
ial intervention by the United States
had beneficient effect in the Tur-
war last June.
..