New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-25
America to Play Important
Part in the Future, Says
Baron BusSche
ONLY BELLIGERENTS
IN NEGOTIATIONS NOW
Won't Speak of Belgium,
but Asks "HoW About
Greece and Rumania ?"

/ Berlin. Dec. "a (by wireless to Say
/ ville).-Baron Won dem Bussehe-Had-
denhsusen, Under Secretary Of State
for Foreign Affairs and formerly first
secretary of the German Embassy IN
Washington. in an interview with a
member Of the Overseas News Agency
/ staff regarding President Wilson's note
/ to the bellgerents describes the recep-
I ton Of the note by German official cir
cles az sympathetic.
The Under Secretary opened the con-
( versation himself without delay, says
! the news agency report of the inter
/ view. BY saying:
! 81 am sure know what you want TO
ask me. You want TO know our opinion
about what | may call President Will
+ sons peace note. In this case think
1T would be best if you asked me re-
gsrding those points which impress you
as most important"
In complying with his suggestion the
interviewer said:
There are two main points IN the
Presidents note which, although inter
woven with each other, make separate
consideration necessary. The first il
in relation to the immediate and near
/ future, and conveys the meaning that
/ the conditions ought 10 he made known
under which the belligerents consider
the conclusion of peace possible. The
second problem is further reaching. Il
takes a broad view of the possibilities
+ Of the future in general, and asks By
what means such catastrophes as the
present can be averted.'
L. S. to "Play Important Part"
/ Baron Bussche. says the account
OF the interview. agreed TO this, and
said that TO his mind the two points
mentioned made a somewhat different
treatment desirable.
AS 20 the problem which you men
toned last he remarked, that Of
general arrangements for the future, |
dare say that the United States will
play an important part in them. The
United States always has been among
the most enthusiastic and foremost sd-
vocates Of the idea Of arbitration.
AS TO the conclusion of peace itself.
this must be done by the belligerents.
| think | understand President Wilson
Alright If say that he does not offer
mediation for this point, and that he
only shows the interest winch the
United States, as well as all other
neutrals, naturally have TO see peace
restored. The President says that IN
this direction il would be of material
advantage if conditions could be COM
municated under which the belliger-
ents consider it possible 20 make peace
AZ to these conditions. may point out
one remarkable fact; All the belliSer-
ents have insisted that one Of their
most important aims is the protection
Of small neutral states.
Won't Speak of Belgium
II don't want 10 reopen discussion 2
Of the past want to be as impartial.
as neutral. as il is possible 70 be IN
the present hour when | state what
must be Germany's standpoint IN TINS
respcct. All the belligerents agreed
in words about this position. OF neu-
trails. but as 10 their action they have
been less unanimous. J don't want 10
sneak about Belgium at all. As I've
already said, don't want to speak o.
3 the past. co H..
( But how about HreeCe ~"
about Rumania? Rumania has been
dragged into the war virtually against
her will By the Entente. Or course
we recognize that Lloyd George, IN
his last speech, called the Entente's
action. in Rumania's case a blunder'
but that is small comfort. And, then