The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-11-24
PEACE Plans AFOOT
LONDON SEES GERMAN HANDS
BEHIND CURRENT RUMORS
NO news In WASHINGTON

NO news IN WASHINGTON
New York Times Correspondent
Writes Interesting Story Concern.
ing Probable Attempt Of Central
Empires to Make Peace During the
Winter-Diplomatic Comment.
From an extremely well inform
cd source It Is learned that deh-
mite move In the direction OF peace
by the central empires Is In con-
temptation, If not even actually In
preparation.
The agency by means OF which
Germany and her allies will seek to
approach the Entente powers has al
ready been selected by Wilhelm
strasse; and, although 1t can not be
definitely stated that the American
government Is the chosen instru-
nent, there are indications, accord
ing to the London correspondent OF
The New York Times, that Berlin's
eyes will ;be turned hopefully on
Washington.
B the preliminary negotiations
should show that President Wilson's
declared readiness to act would be
nuIliaed or restricted by the convic-
ton, arrived at on dats available,
that his mediation was unlikely to be
acceptable to one section Of the war
ring powers, it Is probable that re-
course will be had to the Pope.
The correspondents informant,
who makes this prediction, has re-
Gently been in Germany, where, % an
official holding a high position IN
neutral country, he had good opDor-
tunities Of guaging the views or lead
ing men,; The realization that the
continuance Of the war Will be d1sas-
trous to Germany's economic, Gnan-
cial, and commercial resources, and
particularly to her future recupera-
dan, owing to the drain Of man.
power, Is, be says, strong among men
who count the most in the empires
councils.
Their confidence in their ability
to maintain their military superior
fty Is just rs great; but peace Is
essential, even at the sacrifice or
many things their armies have
won.
How far Germany would 60 in that
direction, he says, Is a question:
which can be decided only when the
terms Of peace actually come up for
discussion; but he asserts that Ger
many and Austria are ready to meet
the Entente powers considerably
more than half way.
Whether the latter are likely to
accept anything less than all they
have laid down as conditions OF peace
Is altogether another matter, on
~Sieh my informant expressed no
opinion. But on the point that the
central empires want peace at even,
from their point OF view, q high
price, and will this winter make def
inite proposals through the best In
termediary available, he is most en-
phatic.
Officials Of diplomatic establish
ments OF some Of the Entente powers
at Washington said that they had no
information to bear out the state
roeuts made to the London CORE
spondent of The New York Times.
that q definite move in the direction
OF peace was contemplated by the
Teutonic empires, If not actually IL
preparation.
It could not be learned whether
the United States government hao'
any inkling Of such a move, but, II
one may Judge from the opinions
OF the diplomats in question, moth
ing has come to this capital to bear
out the hope that peace proposals :;
likely to bear fruit are to be ex- :
Dected In the near future.
According to the view among dip
lornats connected with the embassies
Of the Entente allies, 1t Is to be eS-
pected that Germany and Austria vii
seize any opportunity that presents
itself to enter into peace negotsa:
tions with their enemies. But over
tures Of this character, mainly in the
way OF feelers and suggestions, have
been made from time to time In ways
that indicated unmistakably that they
came. from German sources.
It Is pointed ont, however, that II
wss far different thing for Ger.
many and Austria to propose that
peace negotiations be initiated than
to expect Great Britain, France, Rus
sia, and Italy to give encouragement
to them. :.
For many months the washington
administration and diplomatic estab-
Nshments have been aware that there
was q substantial motive behind the
various statements in the press that
peace moves were on the carpet
while not claiming to have absolute
information on the subject, dlpio
matte officials were convinced that
these statements originated IN berno
and Vienna.
Last summer the statement ap-
peared that Germany would con-
sent to make peace with her enc
mics under certain conditions
among them the restoration Of Bel
eium to its independent status,
freedom for Poland, cessions OF
certain Russian territory to Aus
tria and the restoration to Ger
1nauy OF the colonies taken from
her by Great Britain and Japan.
No doubt exists in the minds o.
some European diplomats whose sym
pathies are with the Entente a!les
that this statement Of German stlpu.
lations for peace were put forward
in q movement having for its object
a proposal to all the warring powers
that the European conflict be brought
to an end.
One of the best informed diplomats
in Washington said that the Entente
allies were in no state OF mind to
listen to peace proposals from the
ro,,4o~;c y>oxrers At this period OF