New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-19
President Holds Definite
Expression on Terms
Is Necessary.
BRITISH NOT YET
READY TO TREAT
Allies Sure of Winning,
and Insist Germany
Must Be Crushed.

Washington, Sept 49, Great Britain
has received nc proposal for peace,
either direct or indirect, from. Ger
many or Austria, aad therefore has
nothing to say on the subject.
This was the substance of a message
received late tonight by Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, the British Ambassador
here, from Sir Edward Grey, the
British Foreign Secretary.
The ambassador had inquired early
to-day whether any proposal CT peace
was before his government, in view of
the persistent rumors from Berlin that
peace proposals were being exchanged.
Coincident with the receipt of this
information from Great Britain il was
learned authOritatiyely that President
Wilson had not pursued either with
Great Britain, France or Russia the
J informal suggestion Of the Imperial
German Chancellor that "it was up to
the United States TO obtain {. state
ment of peace terms from the Allies"
At the White House the view was
expressed that the President had prac-
tically abandoned the idea of continu-
inr the informal peace movement, be-
gun ten days ago in conversation
between Oscar StrauS and Count Won
Bernstorff, the German Ambassador.
He has decided to await definite eX-
preston on terms from some one OF
the beiligerents, feeling that it would
he inconsistent with American neutral
ity to press any of the belllgerents to
make overtures to the others.
No Further Step Taken.
Incidentally, the State Department
has not communicated with the BRITISH
or French ambassador. here or the
German Ambassador, in New York, on
the subject. Sir Cecil Sprlng-klce, as
we'll as Jules Jusserand, were at the
State Department to-day IN conference
with Counsellor Robert Lansing. act
inc Secretary in the absence of Mr..
Rrvan, Ambassador Spring Rice did
not mention peace, discussing neutral
The French Ambassador made only
casual inquiry rs to the correctness OF
tYo newspaper reports, one giving a
list of prerequisites and conditions un-
der which Germany was supposed 10
have informed the I'm ed States, OF
willingness 10 make peace, and the
other giving the substance OF con-
yersation between Ambassador Gerard,
at Berlin, and the Imperial Chancellor.
lie learned that the latter report was
correct, but made 10 comheni. ne
Belp;an Minister had also inquired
about the reports.
The view prevailed among the Dip
lomats representing the allied powers
that President Wilson would not ask
the American Ambassadors abroad TO
continue the conversations unt'i terms
of peace were voluntarily proposed by
our or more of the belligcrents.
The informal exchanges thus lar
conducted by the American AmDaS-
sadors 4. Berlin, London and ParlS
have brought forth almost ldenucai
statements, each eide charging inc
other with responsibility Tor siartlhg
the war, each declaring that " has
been attacked, and saying II would con-
slider terms Of peace only ii oVertureS
were made by the enemy win deh-
mite statement of terms.
Roosevel's Precedent.
Il was pointed out here to-day that
tho United States was careful TO avoid
informal soundings and obtained a
written request from Russia AID Japaa
for a discussion OF peace before act
ing as an intermediary to settle the
Russian-Japanese war.
President Wilson held iurther to-
day. in reference 10 Won BetbmRnn-
HGllweg's suggestion that the United
States sound the Allies as TO terms,
that such course was precluded oy
the statement which Sir Edward Grey
recently made TO Ambassador Rage
That statement, too. It will be re-
Continued on page 2, \cOlumn