The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-12-13
TERMS OF PEACE OFFER
Provide for Return of German CoIonie,

Provide for Return OF German Coloniea
for Territory In Europe.
Washington, Dec. 13.-A-V-ce,' from
Berlin to the German embassy indicate
that Germary's peace terms, in general
measure, propose the restoration OF
the status quo before the war, with
the exception of the establishment OF
Independent kingdoms of Poland and
Lithuania.
They are understood to prop SO the
complete restoration of the occupied
portions Of Belgium and France In re-
turn for Germany's captured colonies
and to dispose OF the Balkan situation
because Of its extremely comp,.cate1
nature in the peace conference.
The terms for the restoration of Bel
GUM and portions OF France give no
indication, SO far as Is known, Of st p
ulaticns such as generally have been
expected b. the allies, although they
did not absolutely dispose of their
possibility. -
Among the entente diplomats: Ger
many'sL offer was pronounced to be
of double purpose and unlikely of &C
ceptance. The first purpose, the ally
representatives declare, is to affect the
world opinion of neutTals and pace
upon the entente powers the respon,
sibility for continuing the war in the
face of offers for peace. The second:
they declare, is for the internal effect
in Germany, and to give evidence to
the people that the government. was
ready to end the war, but was forced
to continue by her enemies.
The pence offer. the ally diplomats
haer tinnad TO follow t 1e
military victory which culminatet
the fall of bucharest, which in Itself
is relied uron to convince the pc Pc
that they should lack no confidence IN
the ability Of the government to cen
tinue the war, if peace offers are de-
clired.
While without official information OF
the terms proposed by the central
powers, the ally diplomats in Wash
ington believe they ara somewhat
after the general nature Of the follow.
ing:
Germany to restore the occupied
portions Of Belgium and France, out
not Alsace and Lorraine. The restor
alton of Belgium. however, is expected
to be ACCOMPANIED by terms which
would give Germany control OF Ant
werp and what the entente allies de-
clare would be practical military con-
troll of the country. They expect a'so
that in restoring the occupied portions
of France, Germany would seek to re-
tain economic control Of the rich iron
country AMI stipulate that no restr1c
lions be placed on free expectation OF
the raw materials, she needs so much.
AS regards Poland, the entente rep
resentatives expect that all the terri
tory conquered from Russia would be
included in the Independent kingdom,
but that none of Poland held by Ger
many before the war would be so in
Guided.
Mesopotamia, these diplomats ex-
pect, would be claimed for Germany
and Austria. to give them an unbroken
line to the Persian gulf. Such an ar
rangement,. they say, would threaten
Great Britain's control Of Egypt and
the Indian empire.
In Serbia, all of the country as far
south as Nish would. according to this
plan, be awarded to Bulgaria. 1t would
take from Serbia as much territory as
she gained in the Balkan wars.
AS regards Turkey the allied diplo
mats have no idea what the peace plan
might propose, but they are of the
opinion that Turkeys interests will be
secondary considerations.
In the redistribution Of colonies II
Is expected that Germany will ask tc
have her conquered outposts returned
to her, or might propose to exchange
them for some of the French colonies
The attitude Of the allies as to peace
has not been officially indicated to the
United States, and press dispatches
as to their present hostility to 1t. are
the only sources OF information the
United States has had.