Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-28
PRESIDENT SURE
OF GERMAN HELP
Won Bernstorff Declares Cen
tral Powers Anxious to Co.
operate With Wilson.
CONFERENCE PLAN OUTLINED
Delegates From Belligerents
and Neutral Countries
May Settle Terms.

WASHINGTON. Dec 27.-In spite
of the wide gulf between the insistence
of the central powers for an immediate
peace conference and the forecast OF
unanimous refusal by the entente
allies to enter such conference with
out knowing Germanys terms IN ad--
vance. the American government be-
lieveS that the negotiations IN progress
are resulting In good. II was said with
authority tonight that until the door
to peace actually is closed 10y the ono
side or the other, President Wilson
will continue to hope that any dis
cussion OF the subject will tend to
hasten the end of the war.
Count Won Bornstorff, the German
ambassador, returning Unexpectedly
tonight from New York. authorized
the Associated Press to make the fol-
lowing statement:
~ regard the note of my govern.
mcnt ~ constituting AN acceptance or
everything suggested by President
Wilson in his note To the bclliscrcnt
nations In Europe"
II was made clear at the embassy
that Germany stands ready to make
known her terms on the first day OF
any conference that may be held ana
officials expressed themselves as being
greatly surprised at the view prevail
ing in some quarters here that the
lbtfltl government Idu ldlltu W meet
the presidents suggestions 10y not set
ting down in the reply the terms upon
which II is willing to make peace. The
German diplomats say President Will
son had no intention of drawing
public declaration concerning terms
from the central powers
The German policy upon which the
reply to President Wilson's COM
munication is based was outlined as
follows:
The German Stand.
Germany feels that the con-
ference suggested by 1t first
should be composed of delegates
from the belligerent countries
whose duty 1t would he to settle
territorial terms once these
terms are agreed upon, repre-
sentatives of the neutrals should
be called in to participate In con-
sideration of the questions OF
guarantees for the future, in
which neutrals are as vitally con-
ccrned as bellgerents. These
guarantees in the German view
necessarily would have to do with
the freedom of the seas, limited
disarmament, formation or
world league OF nations to enforce
peace and the establishment of an
international court of arbitration.
Germany is said to consider
that neutral nations can have no
interest of their own in terms
such as those relating to territory.
While there were no official advices
upon the subject, the view still per-
sisted in German quarters tonight that
the note of the central powers might
he followed by some highly con-
fidontial oral or written oommunica-
ton to President Wilson in which AT
least broad tentative terms might be
stated In this connection OFFICIALS
noted with interest Berlin press
Dispatches saying that Ambassador
Gerard who as a result of his recent
visit to the United states is thoroly
familiar with The views Of President
Wilson. had taken lunch with Alfred
Zimmerman, the German foreign
minister and probably discussed the
peace situation with him
Anticipate L. s. Part.
lust what the United States could do
towards bridging the gulf in case the
allies hold to their opposition TO
conference is the subject of serious
discussion among officials but as yet
no concrete proposal has been ad-
Vanced. II is said officially that 1t
even has not yet been decided whether
this country will send on to the entente
the Teutonc reply to the president
note as embodying new suggestion OF
whether its mere publication when re-
ceivcd here would be considered SUI
ficient. Officials believe IL may he a
long time before any really substantial
result is obtained.
That the allies will declare that
there must he military solution TO
the war. both in their note to the
president and In their reply 10 the
central powers was the growing beliet
here today both on the basis OF state
,.I INng 81 no "a N fEnIn
cabled press comment. London
dispatch today following one from
Petrograd Yesterday as well ms intima :
tions from both Paris and Rome that
the allies could not discuss peace unul
they actually held the territories they
considered essential for their future.
was taken to indicate that the allies
wanted to wait for substantial VIC
tory and a reversal of the present
military situation.
Britain's Move Surprise.
Great Britains invitation to the
premiers of all the colonies to attend
an imperial war conference to discuss
"possible conditions on which IN agree
ment with our allies we could consent
to its termination" proved decided
surprise here where the step was taken
as indicating the seriousness with
which the peace movement Is viewed
in England. The holding of such a
conference, however. is expected to be
subsequent to the allied replies 70
President Wilson and the central
powers and for the purpose of out
lining much broader policies than
have yet appeared.
Altho Secretary Lansing said today
that full information regarding all OF
the recent submarine attacks on YES
sells in which the United States is in
terested. is in the possession of the
state department. no definite action
on that question is expected during, the
tendency of peace proposals. bll ol
this information has been forwarded
IN Berlin and replies are awaited.