Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-14
PEACE PROPOSALS
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key in Great Britain, France and ia
pan.
The German communication TO her
'nemies was sent without any sugges
tlons or comment by the president.
This action completely fulfilled the
request the central empires made on
the United States.
The state department said officially
that the allies would understand that
his government is ready to transmit
anv answer TO Germany without neees-
sity of making anv definite offer to
do so.
Is Sounding Belligerents
In this connection it was learned that
this government has instituted a ser
les of confidential soundings' in all
belligerent capitals, to determine if
possible the disposition of the various
governments toward consideration of
peace at this time. The first returns
from these inquiries are expressed to
come from American Charge Grew at
Berlin-eonfidential information am
plifyinP the proposal made by Chancel-
Tor Won Bethmann-Hollweg, in the
reichstao Tuesday.
When the United States speaks in
behalf of peace she will be "coneern.
ed to see peace assume an aspect of
permanence, give promise of days from
which the anxiety and uncertainty shall
be lifted, bring some assurance that
peace and war shall always hereafter
be reckoned part of the common in
terest of mankind, - the president be-
lieves.
Representatives of two neutral ma
tions, Switzerland and Spain, made
messengers for Germany for her peace
proposals, called today on Secretary
Lansing. They stated they had just re-
ceived the text of the German note.
Awaiting Developments
1t was stated on highest authority
today that the president S mind is still
open He is still undetermined. He
will reach no decision until he has con-
fidential advices from American rep
resentatives at the entente capitals. He
received, with the German note, cont
fidential message from Charge Grew,
of the American embassy in Berlin.
/ 1t was assumed Secretary Lansing
would confer with the president before
tomorrow S cabinet meeting. German
Ambassador Won bernstorff will prob
ably have an interview with Lansing
within the next few days.
The United Press learned today from
sources of authority that President Will
son s greatest problem in the German
note is to indicate, beyond question,
America y desire not to intermeddle i,
while at the same time to perform the
humanitarian part of eliciting from
both sides some official data as to the
preliminary terms upon which each re.
CARDS peace as possible
The administration hopes that the
allies will not flatly reject the German
note without indicating in some fash
ion their minimum of concessions and
maximum of demands as the basis for
peace. Ii those preliminary concessions
and demands are established by the al
| lies, the administration regards it as
certain that Germany will respond with
| q like list.
Peace Is Not Near
Thus a starting point will be estab-
! lished from which at some time in the
future, peace may come. There is no
idea in official circles that peace is
near. and there is no idea of attempting
| to expedite q settlement.
1t is recognized that such action on
the part of this government would
probably be resented. 1t is also recog'
nized, however, that some time the first
draft of demands must be submitted
and it is looked upon as in the interest
of humanity in general that this pre-
liminary step should be made as early
as possible
The United Press learns that the ad-
ministration has considered the effect
of an uncompromising rejection on pub
lie sentiment in the United States, and
particularly as to the effect of such a
reply on American investors in allied
securities. Washington believes a ma
,iority of Americans want peace in Eu-
rope, although they do not want the
United tSates to butt in with media
ton.