The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-13
Washington Analyzing Situa-
tiOn With Great PrecautiOn.
Believe Allies at Least Should
Consider KaiSer's Offer.
WORLD GUARANTEE OF PEACE
That Necessary, Considering
Germany's Frame of Mind.
Frankly, Expect England to
ScOrn Proposition.

Washington, Dec. 13.-What part
the United States will play in further
ing Germany's suggestion for peace Is
undetermined today.
But these three big ideas toward ID
are in official minds:
That England and her allies
should at least discuss the offers.
That any settlement. especially in
Germany's present frame of mind.
would have to be backed by a world
guarantee of peace.
That the United States will not
be stampeded in the peace move-
ment.
On the whole, the sentiment here
is that at present the United States
ought merely to act as messenger
for Germany and pass on her pro-
posals.
President Wilson is undecided; he
has not even told his cabinet what he
thinks. But his closest followers be-
lieve that this nation ought to know
what the allies think of the offer be-
fore making any move.
Believe England Will Reject 1t.
Furthermore, they say frankly they
believe England will scorn the offer,
especially if based on the terms an
nounced by a German embassy off
cial.
In these circumstances, Americas
course must be cautious, officials
hold.
Information obtained today from
four of the best informed men in close
touch with the administration, includ-
ing one of the foremost men in the
councils and confidence of President
Wilson, is to the effect that anything
purporting to be President Wilson's
idea. now, is a fiction.
The president, he said. has not even
confided to his cabinet what he plans
and indeed, has not yet decided. But
the official view, as reflected by Will
sons closest advisers. can be stated
thus:
Deserves Allies Consideration.
On the first point, the administra-
ton regards the question of peace so
enormous that it must be given seri-
Gus consideration.
On the other hand, it feels con-
vinced already that the allies will
scorn the offers. But be Germanys
motive political, altruistic or greedy,
the idea of step to end the war is too
momentous to be cast aside without
fullest official discussion.
In these circumstances, the govern
ment may lend it's influence-secret-
Iy perhaps-to getting such discus
sion.
But it will go cautiously before put
ting itself on public record behind
Germany's proffer, until it knows ac-
curately whether there can be the
slightest chance of success
On the question of a world guar
antee of peace, officials think that
Germany's terms as revealed by q
German embassy official are such
that an internal agreement could
make them stick" And, at this time,
they feel it is doubtful if such a guar
antee could be effected.
Why a World Guarantee.
The reasons for desiring a world
guarantee are these:
Germany would do well to return to
the status she had territorially before
the war, but in addition she wants
way into Asia Minor. Her terms i'm
pose a hardship upon Russia because
she wants a buffer between that great
nation and her eastern boundary. But
such terms could not be attained,
probably.
Hence, right on that point, the need
of a world guaranty of peace would
arise.
Belgium would be restored, but at
a terrible sacrifice. There would be
no restitution for the ravages of war,
unless perhaps, Germany should buy,
at an enormous rate, the Belgian Con-
go as a restitution measure.
Belgium's fate in the present war
officials think. makes the idea of a
world guarantee of peace even more
essential than perhaps do the ques-