Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-13
Washington Thinks Nego-
tiations May Come to
Head in January.

w AOHlINN Wv, DSS' L.
Germany's proposal for peace
is regarded here as having
broken the chains which for
months have restrained the
United States as well as other
neutrals from making offers
of mediation.
Now that one set Of bellig-
erents has signified its will
lingness to discuss peace terms
"a condition often reiterated
as necessary to any action by
President Wilson - there are
indications that when the
United States acting as the in
termediary transmits the Ger
man proposal it may accom-
pany its action by some steps,
necessarily delicate, to throw
the influence of the United
States into the balance for at
least a consideration, however
preliminary, Of the terms on
which a lasting peace might
be perfected without the par
ranking officials of the Amer
lean government believe a
league of nations such as Pres
ident Wilson has suggested be
the outcome and it could not
be perfected without the par
ticipation of the United States.
Wait on Appeal.
Whether the United States will
transmit the German proposal with
out any comment whatever or ac-
company 1t with some formal or in
formal expression will not be finally
decided until the note delivered to
American Charge Grew in Berlin
reaches President Wilson's hands,
probably tomorrow.
There were indications tonight that
President Wilson might find some
way to express the solemn and earn
est wish of the United States for n
careful consideration of the sugges-
tion of peace even before the entente
governments have made known their
attitude toward the German propo-
sal This, II was pointed out, would
necessarily be done in such a deli
cate and ultraconfdential way that
1t never would be publicly known
should the allies decline the offer.
This course was said TO be absolute
~ necessary so as to leave the United
States free and unembarrassed to act
when an acceptable peace offer
comes.
Wilson Will Act.
Regardless of whether President
Wilson decided to accompany the
German proposal with any word. II
was said tonight he unquestionably
would take steps to learn the attitude
of the entente allies toward the peace
move and possibly might again send
to Europe his personal friend and
adviser. Col. f. NJ. House.
None of the official dispatches had
arrived tonight. The governments
first information was conveyed in the
Associated Press dispatches from
Berlin. President Wilson was said tc
be deeply interested" but reservinl
comment Secretary Lansing main
tanned a similar attitude. The cabi'
= net discussed the development at it'
regular meeting. but the situation wa:
described by members as so obvious
" delicate that no announcement
could he made.
The absence of any specific terms
for peace in the note or in the Ger
man chancellors speech was I'm
measure a disappointment to thos'
who expected some concrete express
sion of a basis on which negotiations
might begin. The German embassy
however Is in possession of adVice
which outline in general way VIVA
Germany expects and the diplomats
of the entente powers, thru thei
means of being supplied with infor
nation. believe they have genera
idea of what terms the central pow
ers are willing to advance as the basil
for discussion.
Recent dispatches to the German
embassy covering wide range or SUP
jects indicate a belief that the gen
eral terms might be in substance n
follows:
Terms Likely.
restoration of the status quo ex
listing before the war. This include
the evacuation of Belgium and tn
restoration of the occupied portions o
northern France, with the exception
of Alsace and Lorraine. No author
lied expression was obtainable fror
the embassy as to whether condition
would be attached to the restoratio
of Belgium and French territory, bu
It was understood that the Germa
idea was to make provision for tn
future neutrality of Belgium an
probably propose identification par
ticularly of the city of Antwerp.
was also understood that no condi
tions amounting to economic contrt
CONTINUED on BACK PAGE