The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-09-18
GERMANY REPLY
NONCOMMITTAL.
Answer to Peace Overtures
from United States Leaves
Status Unchanged.
WILSON NOT ENCOURAGED
Response, However. Does Not Alto
gether Preclude Sending of Further
Communication from Kaiser.

Germany's reply to the informal peacc
overtures Of the United States govern.
ment contains nothing to encourage
Washington officials in the belief that
Germany is ready to initiate peace pro
posals.
The reply, received yesterday, came in
the form Of q message from the imperial
chancellor at Berlin II was sent In re-
spouse to an informal inquiry made BY
Ambassador Gerard at the direction OF
this government, as to whether or not
Germany was prepared to discuss peace
This inquiry was undertaken by the
Washington officials after Oscar Straus
had gained the impression. through an
unofficial conversation with Count Won
Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, that
there was a likelihood that Germany
would be willing to talk peace with her
enemies.
Hopes Not EncouraEInE.
President Wilson does not regard
the reply from the imperial chancel-
lor as absolutely foreclosing any
chance Of peace discussion, but Il was
apparent that the Washington govern
ment could find nothing in the COM
munication that would commit Ger
many to peace negotiations at this
time. In other words, Germanys reply
has left the status of the situation I'M
changed. 1t does not preclude the
sending Of a further communication
from the German government or from
the Kaiser himself in reply to the in
quiry of the United States.
The contents OF the communication
from the imperial chancellor were not
made public, but the message was de-
scribed by the very highest authority
as q mere acknowledgment Of the inquiry
by the United States. 1t was added
authoritatively that the message was
noncommittal, but contained some COM
ment by the imperial. chancellor.
The belief in administration circles Is
that the Kaiser, IL he really Is inclined
toward peace, may yet avail himself Of
the opportunity TO send a communication
to the President in response to the in
quiry.
President Wilson himself used such
explicit terms yesterday in making II
clear that the reply opened no avenue
for peace. proposals by the United States
as to leave no doubt OF the fact that he
has not been encouraged in the hope Of
bringing the war to a speedy end.
Lays Blame ON Allies.
The belief in Washington is that the
message seeks to lay the blame for the
continuance of the war upon the allies
and emphasizes the necessity OF Ger
many continuing the war as long as
Great Britain and her allies continue to
assert that 1t must be war to the finish.
The British and French Ambassadors
declined last night to comment on the
views OF Germany toward peace, as out
lined by Count Won Bernstorn. II can
be said, however, that neither England
nor France expects any progress in
peace proposals until there has been a
decisive turn in the fighting.
Both France and England have ex-
pressed willingness in reply to in
quiries from the United States to dis
cuss any peace proposals that are made
to them. But they have pointed out that
such proposals must be submitted in
definite form. It is known that both
France and England are prepared now
to make demands to which Germany
cannot accede. Both will demand the
OF Belgium for all losses
sustained through the violation of her
neutrality. England will not be content
with less than the dismantlement Of
the German navy. and France Is pre-
pared p demand the return Of Alsace
and Lorraine.