Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-09-16
KA|SER'S REPLY
TO PEACE PLAN
:" WAITED BY u. S,
Informal Discussions Held by
Diplomats.
GERMANY SEEKS TO END WAR
Emperor Is Said to Have Had an In
CURRY From America as to Whether
Nation Desired to Talk
Terms Of Peace.

WdSnlnSLOnI sept. 11.-EmperOr w IL
liam has had under consideration for
several days, it was learned, an infor
NAL inquiry from the United States
government as to whether Germany
desires to discuss terms of peace with
its foes.
Up to late hour the reply had not
come, but on it's tenor depends to some
extent whether or not the informal
peace movement inaugurated just
week ago can be pursued further with
Great Britain, France and Russia.
The inquiry was not a formal one
such as President Wilson's original
tender of good Offices, but was an eff
fort of an official character to deter
mine whether Germany's reported will
ingness to talk peace was based on
fact.
The chronology of the peace move
officials, diplomatists and others direct:
ly concerned in the incident.
Seven Days Pe=ce f.oves.
The story of the seven days of peace
talk, as told by some of the principals.
Is substantially as follows:
Saturday, September 5, Count Won
Bernstorff, the Garman ambassador,
dined with James Speyer, the banker,
at the latter's residence in New York.
Oscar Straus, American member Of
The Hague tribunal and former cabi-
net officer, was present During the
evening, as the conversation turned to
the subject Of peace in Europe, the
German ambassador said that while he
had had no advices from his govern
ment since leaving Berlin, he recalled
conversation with the imperial chan
cellor in which the latter said he be-
lieved the emperor would be willing to
discuss measures of peace through me-
diation. Previous to the ambassador
conversation with the chancellor En-
peror William had already acknowl-
edged President Wilson's tender of
good offices, but had been noncommit-
tai as to it's acceptance. Mr.. Straus
Immediately asked the German ambas-
sador for permission to repeat the con-
versation to Secretary Bryan at Wash
ington. Count Won Bernstorff gave his
consent.
Gerard Told Developments.
Saturday, September 6, Mr. Straus
arrived in Washington and went to the
home of Secretary Bryan, where they
conferred. The secretary communi-
Gated later with President Wilson. 1t
was decided to get the German ambas-
sador's consent to forward a report of
the incident to Ambassador Gerard for
discussion with the German foreign
office. In the meantime Mr.. Straus
was advised to talk the situation over
with the British and French ambassa-
doris here. He saw each that day.
Inquiry Sent to Kaiser.
Monday, Sept Z, the German am
bassador reached Washington and
conferred privately with Mr.. Bryan AS
result Of the conference the secre-
tary cabled Ambassador Gerard to con-
vey to Emperor William an inquiry
from the American government as to
whether he desired to confirm the
statement reported to have been made
by him to the imperial chancellor and
repeated by the chancellor to Count
Won BernstOrff in private conversation.
Copies of the message to Ambassador
Gerard were sent by Secretary Bryan
to Ambassador Page at London and
Ambassador Herrick at Paris. Mean
while Mr. Straus had talked with the
British and French ambassadors, both
of whom said they could make no def
mite statement without instructions, as
they had heard nothing from their gov
ernments on the subject of peace.
They were acquainted by Mr.. Straus
with what had occurred at the dinner
in New York Both the French and
British ambassadors reported the Incl
dent unofficially to their respective for
eign Offices.
Tuesday, Sept. 8, Secretary Bryan
told the British ambassador, Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, what had occurred in de-
tail and learned that the ambassador
similarly had made inquiry Of his gov
eminent to learn it's attitude toward
peace.
Entente Stands Together.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, Sir Edward
Grey discussed with Ambassador Page
the inquiry which the latter had re
ceived from Secretary Bryan. On the
same day Sir Edward Grey cabled the
British ambassador here that as Great
Britain, France and Russia had in the
preceding week agreed not to make
peace without common consent, the po-
sition of the triple entente was unani-
NOUS on the question of terms. Sir
Edward said what the powers wanted
was no temporary truce, but perma-
nent peace in Europe so that the world
could be insured against the sudden
outbreak of war after Germany had re
couped herself The British foreign