The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-23
WHAT DO ALLIES WANT?
PROPOSALS OF ENEMY.
Chancellor Says That to Accept Med
iation Now Would be Misinterpret-
ed as Sign of Weakness.

Germany has suggested, informal
ly, that the United States should un
dertake to elicit from Great Britain
France and Russia statement o1
terms under which the allies woulG
make peace.
The suggestion was made by I'm
perial Chancellor Won Bethmann Holl
veg to Ambassador Gerard, at Ber
lin, as a result Of an inquiry sent BY
the American government to learn
whether Emperor William desired tc
discuss peace as Count Won Bern.
storff, the German ambassador, and
Oscar Sirius recently had reported.
Emperor William himself made no
reply, nor did the imperial chancel-
lor indicate whether he spoke on be-
half of his monarch. Ambassador
Gerard cabled President Wilson the
chancellor's remarks from recollec-
ton, which substantially were as fol-
lows:
+ Germany appreciated the Ameri-
can governments interests and offer
of services in trying to make peace.
Germany had war forced on her.
Even if she defeats France, she must
vanquish Great Britain and Russia
also, as all three have agreed not to
make peace except by common con-
sent. England has announced that
she intends to fight to the limit Of
her endurance. In view Of that de-
termination, the United States ought
to get peace proposals from the allies.
Germany could accept only lasting
peace, one that would make her peo-
pie secure against future attacks.
To accept mediation now would be
interpreted by the allies as a sign of
weakness and also would be misun-
derstood by the German people, who,
having made great sacrifices, had the
right to demand guarantees Of Sc
curity,"
Ambassador Gerard added to this
only the brief comment that he him
self thought the way might possibly
be opened to mediation. President
Wilson, however, did not regard the
message as bringing anything tangi-
Bile. He referred to the chancellor's
conversation as non-committal. The
president took no action as result
of the message, waiting to hear from
Ambassador Gerard whether any
thing of a more formal character
could be obtained.
Germany's position is that she will
give her opinion on peace terms when
she has received a definite statement
from the allies Of their proposals.
The statement that Germany had
war forced on her. as we'll as the
declaration that she wanted a last
ing peace, is almost identical with,
remarks Sir Edward Grey made to
Ambassador. Page in London last
week.
The general belief was that the
president. after waiting a few days
for more information from Berlin.
probably would instruct the Ameri-
IAN ambassadors at London, Paris
and Petrograd to communicate what
me imperial German chancellor had
said to Ambassador Gerard. 1t was
believed the ambassadors would be
asked to reiterate the wishes of the
American government to be Of ser
vice in bringing about peace.
Diplomatists were disposed to be-
lieve that through such informal con-
versa:ions something definite might
be obtained as working basis. If
concord OF opinion for discussian OF
,eace terms were reached, President
Wilson then would endeavor to OBJ
ain an acceptance by all belliger-
ents of the original tender of good
Offices. This would not mean a ces-
sation of hostilities, unless the medl-
ating power specifically made it a
condition of mediation and all bel
ligerents agreed q it. An armistlce
would serve merely as a truce While
oo,no uoc discussed