South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-19
PEACE PLAN FAILS
At PRESENT; j. 5.
TO WAIT CHANCE
Pres. Wilson Decides Efforts to
Bring About End of Struggle
Should be Postponed Until
More 0ppOrtune Time.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-Sir cecil
Spring Rice. the British ambassador.
received a cable message Friday from
Sir Edward Grey, the British minister
for foreign affairs, saying that Great
Britain had received no proposal for
peace, directly or indirectly from
either Germany or Austria. and there
fore was not in position 10 consider
terms Of peace.
This message from the British for
eign office was in response to cable
sent earlier IN the day by Sir Cecil
SPRING. Rice informing his government
OF the report that Germany had asked
the United States TO learn informally
the terms upon which the allies would
be prepared 20 end the war.
Pres. Wilson Friday decided TO def
nitely abandon his second effort to
bring peace TO Europe and will await
more Opportune time, when third
suggestion OF mediation Will be press
ed This will not be until there is a
material change in the fortunes Of
either the allies or Germans in the
war
The presi tets decision was reach
ed first on the unsatisfactory nature Of
Germanys reply 70 the informal dis
cussion Of peace plans through Am
bassador Gerard, and secondly, on the
extremely uncOmprOmising attitude Of
the British. French and Russian gov
ernments, as expressed both through
their embassies in Washington and
their diplomatic officers abroad.
THE allies have not thought Of
peace and do not intend to until the
ends they have been forced to seek
have been accomplished" was the
grim comment Of one of the veteran
diplomats of the allied powers Fri
day This determined opinion has
been conveyed to Pres. Wilson in in
formal communications from Great
Britain, Russia and France and salts
lied him that persistence in his peace
move for the present would be i'll
timed and might meet with a rebuff
that would render later good offices
by the United States difficult and en-
barrassing.
No Conditions Named.
Tt is stated on the highest authority
Of both the white house and state de-
partment that the formal reply to the
president, forwarded by the German
government through Ambassador
Gerard. contained no intimatiOn that
the United States might sound the al
lies on peace conditions and that 1t
did not name any conditions under
which the president could feel justi-
fled in further pressing the present
movement for peace.
The formal message reached the
state department on Wednesday and
il is regarded here as significant that
Secy. Bryan Immediately afterwards
left Washington for several days vaca-
ton. IL is understood that he found
the general outlook so discOuraging
to present efforts that he decided TO
leave for a rest and await a time
when the situation in Europe becomes
more clarified
Absolute ignorance OF the informal
exchange OF communications between
Pres. Wilson and the German chancel-
Tor is maintained at the embassies of
the allies in Washington. No infOrma-
ton of any nature whatsoever has
been received by either Sir Cecil
SpTing-Rice, the British ambassador,
or Jules Jusserand at the French en-
bassy.
The very last word L had concern
ing a possible peace move was on Sep
tember s, when I transmitted to Secy.
of State Bryan the reply of my gov
eminent to the inquiry of the state
department asking if Great Britain
wanted peace said Sir Cecil. since
that time / have had absolutely no
communication of any kind regarding
possible peace either from my own
government or from your state de-
partment."
Statement Holds Good.
At the French embassy practically
the same information was given IN
reply TO questions concerning peace
negotiations The ambassador said
that his statement Thursday night
still answered any question put to
him on that subject.
UnoffiCially IL is stated i'm diplomat
ic circles that the message of the Ger
man chancellor to Pres. Wilson in re-
ply 20 the latter's peace message de-
livered through Ambassador Gerard,
does not warrant the Interpretation
placed upon il by the press and Il is
not conceivable that Germany should
suggest. openly or by Inference that a
statement OF terms OF peace from the
other belligerants would be received
with favor by the kaiser.
Nowhere in diplomatic circles is the
hope expressed that the exchange of
messages between the president and
IN German government would be
fruitful OF peace now. or at any time
in the immediate future. This pessi-
mistic view is based primarily upon
the belief of both sides that the longer
peace is deferred the more advantag-
eous Will be a settlement dictated by
the victors Ii is freely stated that
the war Will not be a draw and that
one side or the other must obtain a
decided advantage before Intervention
Will DO possible.