Perth Amboy evening news., 1916-12-12
HINT RE TURN
OF TERRITORY IN
TERMS OF PEACE
Exceptions are Established on
Independent Kingdoms of
Poland, Lithunia and Boun-
daries in the Balkans, it is
Reported in Washington.
Special By Unitea Press Wire.


peace proposals, according to a Ger
man embassy official, will include q
suggestion that the territorial status
of the nations engaged be returned
practically" to what 1t was before
the war started. The exceptions are
establishment of independent king
doms of Poland and Lithuania and
some readjustment of international
boundaries in the Balkans.
On the latter question it was said
the situation was so complicated that
It Is hard at this time definitely to
suggest anything like positive terms
that will be accepted by all belliger-
ents.
The one concrete suggestion made
Is that Bulgaria will probably want
the return Of the territory she lost in
the second Balkan war and 1t is sup
posed Germany guaranteed this when
Car Ferdinand entered the war or
the side of the Central powers. The
peace terms, the United Press in.
formant said included the evacua-
ton of northern Frances, restoration
of the kingdom of Belgium, at least
a partial restoration of Serbia and
Roumania, and the return to Ger
many of her lost colonies The fac
tors which are said to have led to
German peace proposals at this time
are:
The favorable military positions OF
the Central powers; the fact that
winter at hand will necessitate the
cessation Of hard fighting for three
months; desire to smoke out" the
allies to announce just what they are
fighting for. Desire to convince the
world and the German people wher-
ever they are that Germany is not
fighting a war of territorial conquest
and desire; If the war continues, to
let the world know Germany will not
be responsible for further bloodshed
The peace terms outlined, the Ger.
man official intimated. are not neces.
sarily Germany's final proposition.
The important question is to fin,
out If the Allies will talk peace" sait
this official. Germany makes the pro
posal in order to find out if it may bt
more reasonable to stop fighting be.
fore either side is able to get in wha-
Lloyd George called in his interview
with the United Press, knockout"
Although he has no appointment il
is expected Ambassador. Won Bern.
storff will see Secretary of State Ian.
sing and thoroughly discuss with hin
the whole matter. 1t is believed the
AMBASSADOR may shortly request ar
mo comment at this time" were tn,
first words sent out from the Whit,
House after Secretary to the Presi.
dent Tumulty read the United Press
peace proposal dispatch. White
House officials would not say this
meant anything would be given out
later.
Copies of the United Press dis,
patches were sent to the White
House by special messenger, and af-
ter reading them Secretary Tumuity
rushed with them to the Presidents
office.
When German Ambassador Coun
Won Bernstorff received the wireless
message from Berlin, informing him o
Germany's peace proposals he sen
word to newspaper correspondent
that the morning interview would b,
somewhat later than usual.
Informed by the United Press to
day of Germany's offer to discuss peac
proposals, Secretary Lansing, confine,
himself to saying "I know nothing
about 1T"
Immediately after receipt of til
news, Lansing declined for the mo
ment" to see any newspaper men.
was presumed he will keep his ap
pointment with the newspaper men a
a later hour.
The United States will direct tn,
peace proposals to Entente nation
where she represents Germany's inter
ests. The Administrators viewpoin
to date has been a disinclination t.
engage in any peace manoeuvre unit
one side of the other had given in TO
indications that it wanted peace. I
Germany's terms are such as to prom
Use success there seems no reasons Il
believe that this government will no
only present the proposals, but like
wise lend its moral influence for settle
ment of the great conflict, officials her,
said.
If Germany's peace proposals are
such that she merely wishes the
United States to act as courier in
transmitting them, this government
will pass the proposals along without
any comment of her own. On the
other hand, if Germany's. proposals
are that the United States itself along
with other neutral nations shall
make proposals in their own name
at Germanys behalf, the admins
tration will study the proposal be-
fore taking action. This does not
mean. however, that the United
States would not transmit the pro-
posals under the second plan. These
facts were officially revealed at the
state department shortly after Secre-
tary Lansing was shown United
Press dispatches from Berlin. saying
that Germany had initiated a peace
move.
In the absence, however. of exact
information as to what Germany
thinks, Secretary Lansing withheld
comment His only statement for
publication was: 'T know nothing
about It, and have nothing to say"
He would not indicate whether the
proposal came as a surprise to him,
but his manner indicated more
clearly than words that the German
news was probably the happiest news
he had heard from Berlin in months.
Insofar as the United Press dis