The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-17

thority concerning events of such es-
sential secrecy, there is every reason
to believe that peace negotiations were
discussed between Germany and
France in Rome and between Germany
and Russia in Petrograd.
"FeeIers" Thrown Out.
At whose instigatio the parley with
the French was begun or On what basis
it was conducted correspondents are
unable to learn, but probably the nego-
tiations were more in the nature Of a
''feeler" than anything else. The ne
gotiations with Russia were probably
on the basis Of some Russian guaranty
to give up the long cherished ambition
to occupy Constantinople.
Diplomats Moves Significant.
Of course, it is easy to deny tina,
conversations on this point have been
held, but known facts, such as Ambas-
sador Cambon's presence in Rome and
Ambassador Flotow's private converse
ton with King Victor Emmanuel Of
Italy indicate that private information
which it is impossible to publish, is
reliable.
What progress these negotiations
made will certainly not be known un-
til after the war, as they were sud.
denly broken off by Germany. This
was the first direct result of confer
ences between Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hclweg and the leaders of the
various political parties preceding the
recent meeting of the'reichstag
Revolution May Result.
All the political leaders frankly told
the chancellor, information is reliable.
that the price of peace today would be
revolution in Germany, as all the
Germans are unwilling to make the
stupendous sacrifices which the war is
costing without winning a decisive re.
suit. Thereby. This feeling of the
German people, which undoubtedly
was shared under different colors by
British leaders, makes immediate
peace question of extreme doubt.
The appointment of Prince Won Bre-
low to the ambassadorship Of Rome,
which was hailed with such satisfac-
ton throughout Germany, might be
construed as having feature of ex-
IRENE interest to the United States,
inasmuch as it gives rise to specula-
ton as to whether Rome is to be Sc
lected for signing the peace rather
than Washington or The Hague.
German feeling is somewhat sens-
tive about the personality Of the MAJ.
who is to make German peace. While
there is on the surface unanimity Of
satisfaction about Won Bethmann'
Hollweg, who came through the last
reichstag without difficulty, there is
still large number of Germans who
shrink from the thought that he
should make peace.
Won Bethmann-Hollweg, of course.
stands very close to the kaiser, while
Prince Won Buelow, since the famous
Daily Telegraph incident of 1908, when
he had the unpleasant task of request
ing his imperial master to limit his
public conversation, has not reveled in
the affection or regard of the German
sovereign. Won Buelow's appointment
is looked upon, however, as the be-
ginning of his reintroduction into cur
rent affairs, and with Rome as the
peace city there appears to be an in
tention of using his undoubted diplo.
matte ability not only in keeping Italy
neutral, but in securing the best terms
possible for Germany at the conclusion
of the war.
American Animosity Resented.
What Americans would all have
hailed with ratification-namely q
peace signed in Westinghouse hardly
possible with the present German sens
itiveness over the outspoken animosity