The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-09-13
President Wilson Makes Direct Inquiry
as to Reported Statement Favor
ing Peace by Mediation.
England, France and Russia Notified
of the Pending Offer But They
Are Not Anxious For Peace Now.

Washington. d. c., Sept. 12.-Em.
peror William has had under consfo
Grafton for several days, il was learn.
ed tonight, an informal inquiry from
the United States government as to
whether Germany desires to discuss
terms of peace with her foes. On the
tenor of the reply depends to some
extent whether or not the informal
peace movement, inaugurated week
ago can be pursued further with Great
Britain, France and Russia.
The inquiry was not formal one
such as President Wilson's original
tender of good offices. but was an
effort to determine whether Ger
many's reported willingness to talk
peace was based on fact. The chron-
ology of the peace movement was re
vealed tonight after canvass of OF
iicials, diplomatists and others direct.
ly concerned.
The story of the seven days of
peace talk, as told by some of the
principals, substantially is as follows
Saturday, September Count Won
Bernstorff, German ambassador. din.
ed with James Speyer. the banker. at
the latter's residence in New York
Oscar Straus, American member of
the Hague tribunal and former cabin.
ct officer was present. When the
conversation turned to peace in En-
rope, the ambassador said that while
he had had no advices from his gov
eminent since leaving Berlin, he re-
called a conversation with the i'm
perial chancellor, in which the latter ,
said he believed the emperor would
be willing to discuss peace through
mediation, Previous to the ambas-
sador's conversation with the calm
cellor, Emperor VIII lam already had
acknowledged President Wilson'S
tender of good offices but had been
non-committal as to its acceptance
Mr.. Straus asked the German ambas
sador for permission to repeat the
conversation to Secretary Bryan a,
Washington. Count Won Bernstorff
gave his consent.
Sunday, September G.-Mr. StrauA
arrived in Washington and went to
the home of Secretary Bryan where
they secretly conferred. The secre-
tafy later communicated with the
president. II was decided TO get the
German ambassadors consent to for
ward a report to American Ambassa,
dor Gerard for discussion with the
German foreign office. Mr. Straus
was advised to talk the situation over
with the British and French ambas-
sadors here. He saw each that day.
Monday. September THE German
ambassador reached Washington anf
conferred privately with Mr.. Bryan /
As result the secretary cabled Am
bassador Gerard to convey to Emper
or William an inquiry from the Am
erican government as To whether lie
desired TO confirm the statement re
ported to have been made to the inn
perial chancellor and repeated by the
chancellor to Count Won Bernstorff
Copies of this cable were sent to
AHtbdaHsfuOi i dEt dl l4ouuoH anu All
bassador Herrick at Paris. Mean
while Mr.. Straus had talked, with the
British and French ambassadors. both
of whom said they could make no
definite statement without instruc-
tions. Mr.. Straus acquainted them
with what had occurred at the dinner
| in New York. Both the French and
British ambassadors reported the in
lcident unofficially to their foreign Of
lfices.
Tuesday, September S.-Secretary
Bryan told the British ambassador,
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. what had oc