Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-12-27
SENDS
FRIENDLY REPLY
10 in Form Of Joint Note From
Germany, Austro-Hungary,
Bulgaria and Turkey.
.ASkSIMMEDIATE conference
Declares Hioh.Mlndsd Suggestions
Made by the PRECEDENT Of the
United States Are Considered
In Friendly Spirit.

Berlin, via Sayville wireless, Dec
N.-The reply Of the German allies
to the peace note of President Wilson
was given to Ambassador Gerard. II
failed to name any peace terms.
The reply was In the form Of Joint
note, handed to the diplomatic repre-.
sentatives Of the United States In vi.
emma, Sofia and ConstantinOple, as
well as In Berlin. Announcement that
the German allies had answered the
American note was made through the
Overseas News agency.
Considers Note Friendly.
The reply states that the imperial
government considered President Will
sons note in a friendly manner, but
that lin the opinion of the German
government that great work--the pre-
vention Of future wars-can be begun
only after the end Of the present strug-
gle"
When the time comes, says the an
swer. the German government will be
ready with pleasure to collaborate
with the United States.
The reply renews the offer made by
Chancellor Won Bethmann- Hollweg on
December Fl, to enter Immediately
into peace conference.
The statement given out through the
Central News agency says:
'sThe text of the answer to President
Wilson's note was transmitted in
Berlin to James w. Gerard. the
United States ambassador, and
also in Vienna, Sofia and CONSTANT
nople to the American representatives.
Calls Effort High-Minded.
To the imperial government an I'M
mediate exchange Of views seems
the most appropriate road in order to
reach the desired result The reply
says:
The high-minded suggestion made
by the president Of the United States
of America to create basis for the
establishment of lasting peace has
been received and considered by the
imperial government in the friendly
spirit expressed in the presidents CON-
munication.
The president points out that
which he has ut heart and leaves open
the choice Of the road.
1T therefore begs, in the sense of
the declaration made on December II,
which offered the hand for peace ne
'gotiations, to propose Immediately a
meeting of the belligerent states at
some neutral place.
Also, the IMPERIAL government is
Of the opinion that the great work of
prevention of future wars can be be-
gun only after the present struggle OF
nations. 1t will, when this moment
shall have come, be ready with pleas
ure to collabOrate entirely withsithe
United States at this exalted task.'Y,,
The answer finishes with the usual
terms of diplomatic etiquette.
Wilson to Press Peace.
Washington, Dec. q. - President
Wilson does not intend to permit his
efforts to end the war to terminate
with the German suggestion of IAN
immediate meeting of delegates Of
the belligerents at neutral place."
1t is the purpose of the president
to communicate the German reply to
the allies for their consideration.
He will convey to Germany the re-
Spouse of the allies to his peace sug-
gestion when that response is re-
ceived.
In other words, the president in
tends to continue the negotiations,
expecting that he will be able slowly
but surely to bring the belligerents
to the point where they will discuss
terms
Doesn't Meet Wilson Views.
The German note does not in any
way meet the presidents idea. "The
president" says Mr.. Lansing, "sug-
gests that an early occasion be sought
to call out from all the nations now
at war such an avowal of their re-
spective views as to the terms upon
which the war might be concluded
and the arrangements which would
be deemed satisfactory as guaranty
against Its renewal or the kindling
of any similar conflict in the future
as would make it possible frankly to
compare them"
Germany favors an Immediate ex-
change of views" not, however, pre-
liminary to a conference, but during
a conference. Germany also is not
concerned so much about the pre-
vention of.future wars as she is about
that now In progress.
This Is shown by her declaration that
''the great work Of the prevention Of
future wars can be begun only after
the end Of the present struggle Of ma.
tions."
The president was exceedingly anx.
ious to have the authoritative spokes-
man of each side "avow the precise
objects which would, If attained,
satisfy them and their people that
the war had been fought out"