The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-18
Suggests That United States
Get Proposals From the
Allies.
NOTHING TANGIBLE IN
MESSAGE FROM GERARD
Does Not Indicate Whether I'm.
perial Chancellor Speaks
for Kaiser.
PRESIDENT TAKES NO ACTION
Diplomatists Believe Something Def
mite May Result From In
formal Parlcys.

wASHINGTON. September liter
many has suggested informally that
the United States should undertake to
elicit from Great Britnin. France and
t;ussia statement OF terms under
which the allies would make peace.
The suggestion was made by the
imperial Chancellor. Won Bcthmann-
Iiollwcg. to Ambassador Gerard. at
Herlln. as = result Of an inquiry sent
oy tho American government 20 learn
whether Emperor William desired 10
consider peace as Count Won Bcrnstorff.
the German ambassador. and Oscar
Strauss recently had reported.
Emperor William himself made no
reply nor did tn" Imperial Chancellor
indicate whether he spoke on behalf OF
HIS monarch. Ambassador Gerard
ablcd President Wilson the ChanccI
substantially were follows:
Germany appreciated the American
go,crnmcnts interests and offer ,ot
services in trying TO make peace. Ger
many had war forced her. Even
II she defeats France. she must van
Guish Great Britain and Russia also.
as all three have agreed not 10 make
peacc except hy common consent. Eng
land has announced that she intends TO
tight 10 the limit ot her endurance. Ia
vicw or that discrimination. the United
states ought TO get peace proposals
ccpt only a lasting peace, ono that
would make her people secure against
future attacks. To accept mediation
now would he interpreted by I'll" allies
rs a-sicn OF weakness. and also would
to misunderstood by the German people.
WHO, having made great sacrifices, had
the right la demand guarantees OF &C.
cuii;y."
Way YET FIND WAY
OPEN TO MEDIATION
.tmhs ssador Gerard added TO this
only 'the brief comment that hc HIM
self thought tho way might possibly
Inc opened to mediation.
President Wilson. however did not
regard the message as bringing any
:linr tang iblc. He referred TO the
chanccllors conversation as noncon-
initial Thv President took no action
hear from Ambassadors Gerard whether
anything OF more formal character
could hc obtained
C;ermany'S position is that she will
give her opinion on peace terms when
yhc has received 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 lasting peace. is almost
identical with remarks Sid Edward
Grey made TO Ambas sador Page In Lon
don last week.
.
tho President after waiting few days
FOR more Information from Berlin prob
ably would instruct tn. American am
has.adors at London. Paris and retro
grad to communicate what the Impc-
rial German chancellor had said TO Am
hassador Gerard. II was believed the
ambas ssadors would bc asked 10 rcitcr-
ate the wish OF tho American govern
rnent 10 he Of service in bringing about
peace.
Diploma lists were disposed 10 believe
that through such informal converse
lions something definite might he oh
,aincd as a working basis II CON
cord opinion for discussion of peace
terms were reached President Wilson
then would endeavor 10 obtain an ac-
ceptance by all bcllirercnts of the ORR
HInal tender Of good Offices. This would
not mean cessation of hostilitics un-
less the mediating power specifically
made il condition of mediation and
all bclligercnts agreed To ii. An armis-
tcc would serve merely a truce
while peace was discussed.
sEI ERAL CONDITIONS
NAMED by GERMANS
Various reports were current to-day
that Germany had named several con-
ditions under which she would make
peace; that she had refused proposals
10 alter the territorial status Of her
empire and possessions and would ccde
no territory or dismcinEer her fleet. but
it was said authoritatively that moth
ing OF this character was contained in
any OF the messages from Berlin to the
american government