The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-09-18
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR ASKS u
S, TO SECURE PEACE PRO
PosALS FROM ALLIES.
NJ TERMS AME MENTIONED
But It is Believed Germany Would
Object to Sacrificing Either Terri
tory or Any Portion of Her New
Navy.

Washington, Sept. 17.-Germany
has suggested informally that the
United States should undertake to
elicit from Great Britain, France and
Russia a statement of terms under
which the allies would make peace.
The suggestion was made by the
imperial chancellor, Won Bethmann-
Hollweg, to Ambassador Gerard at
Berlin as a result of an inquiry sent
by the American government to learn
whether Emperor William desired to
discuss peace, as Count Won Bern
storff, the German ambassador, and
Oscar Strauss recently had reported.
Emperor William himself made no
reply, nor did the imperial chancellor
indicate whether he spoke on behalf
of his monarch. Ambas sadOr Gerard
cabed President Wilson the chancel-
,or's remarks from recollection,
which substantially were as follows:
Germany approached the Ameri-
can offer OF services in tryinS to
make peace. Germany had war
forced on her. Even if she defeats
France, she must vanGuish Great
Britain and Russia also as all three
have agreed not to make peace eX-
cept by common consent. England
has announced that she inteds to
fight to the limit of her edurance. IN
view of that determination the
United States ought to get peace pro
posals from the allies. Germany
could accept only a lasting peace, one
that would make hG' people secure
against future attacks. To accept
mediation now would be interpreted
by the allies as a sign of weakness
and also would be misunderstood Dy
the German people, who, having
made great sacrifices, had the risnt
to demand guarantees of security
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 5
conversation as noBCOmmittal. The
president took no action as a 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 received a definite statement
from the allies of their proposals.
The statement that Germany had war
forced on her as well as the declara-
ton that she wanted a lasting peace
is almost identical with remarks Sir
Edward Grey made to Ambassador
Page in London last week.
The general belief tonight was that
the president, after waiting a few
days for more information from Ber-
lin, probably would instruct the
American ambassadors at London,
Paris and Petrograd to communicate
what. the imperial German chancellor
said to Ambassador Gerard. 1t was
believed the ambassadors would be
asked to reterate the wish Of the
American government to be of ser
vice in bringing about peace.
Diplumatists were disposed to be-
lieve that through such informal con
versations something definite might
be obtained as a working basis. An
armistice would serve merely as a
truce while peace was destroyed.
Various reports were current today
that Germany had named several con
ditions under which she would make
peace; that she had refused proposals
to alter the territorial status OF her
empire and possessions and would
cede no territory or dismember yer
fleet. but it was said authoritatiyely
that nothing OF this character was
contained in any of the messages
from Berlin to the American govern
ment.
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tCHLOnMED CItkIK