The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-27
REGARDED AS LEADING
 FOR REAL DISCUSSION
Germany's Reply Was Everywhere Agreed That the Principal Sticking Point Was the Lack of Definite Statement of Terms Such as Pres ident Wilson Asked,

Washington, Dec 2G.-Germany'5 reply to President Wilson's note is regarded here as having advanced the peace movement another step, de- .spite the fact that it disappoints in not meeting his suggestion for an .ayowal Of terms.
 The reception Germany's reply re- ceives among the entente allies, whose statesmen have publicly de. .clared against such a program, now because the point upon which fur ther move is hinged. The German rote probably is the prelude to a series Of carefully considered delicale moves in the great game of world dA)- .omacy, all possibly leading to al ap- .psoach for a real discussion of peace terms on grounds which all tue belli- gerents may feel can place them at no disadvantage,
 This is the offical view Of Ger .manys reply so far as it has been for .muIated on the basis Of the unofficial text. The official copy had not been received tonight and President Wi, son was keeping his mind open.
 Neutral diplomatic quarters too, re garded the note as a step toward reace and rather leaned to the view that Germany might follow it with a confidential communication of some sort outlining her terms
 The view of the entente embassies frankly expressed was that the note was net an answer to President Vii sons communication, but rather a d0cument for circulation in Germany ard in neutral countries with the ob- ject of moulding opinion to place the responsibility for continuing the war
 Il the entente. Among the Germanic diplomats the only view expressed ' as one of surprise that the reply had preceded receipt of the eutente's re sponse to Gemanys original peace proposal of December 12
 It was everywhere agreed that the principal sticking point was the hack Ci a definite statement of terms such as President Wilson asked and such as Lsoyd-Gecrge declared the allies would require if they were not to "Iut their heads into a moose with the rope end in the hands of the Ger mans.' It is not beyond the realm of diplomacy, however, to lind a way to bridge that difficulty and Germanys attitude, is not regarded as a block to tue negotiations, although it makes them exceedingly difficult.
 Gormany's declaration that she Ee- guards the work of securing the world against future wars, the work to be taken up after the present conflict was ended, was regarded with n d- versity of opinion.
 Officials who turned back and com pared the statement with the phrases of President Wilson's note did not find the two out of harmony nor in dis agreement with the presidents pubic utterances on world league to pre- serve peace; yet there was an indef- ilable opinion abroad in official quar-  ters that the ending of the war and the safeguarding of peace of the tu- tLre were a joint problem so insepar- able that one depended on the other. Those taking this view referred to
 lloyd,George' declaration that the allies would consider it possible to en- ter a conference only if Germany would first offer "feparation, restitl- ton and guarantees
 The German reply is regarded as not only failing to do this, but it's sug gestion that the work be left for the future, 1t Is feared, may raise diff cult obstacle for the allied statesmen to surmount with their own people tC whom an absolutely durable peace hae been held out as one of the main jus tifications of the war
 Unpop,ar as such concession might be in the entente countries ,th5 very enormity of the subject viewed | in the cold light of diplomacy is re