The Washington herald., 1916-12-28
EXPECT GERMANY
TO OUTLINE PEACE
TERMS SECRETLY
Diplomats Here Think Kaiser
Ready to Tell Conditions
In Confidence.
POLKENCOURAGESBELIEF
State Department Counselor Suggests
Possibility of Informal Nesotia-
lions with Teutons.

Peace advocates In, Washington. headed
their hopes on the belief that Germany
was perpared to submit to this govern
ment-under the close seal of confidence
statement of the terms upon which
the central allies will end the war.
The hope was based upon statements
by high German of1cils In this country
that Germany would not be averse to
secretly conveying to this country the
aims and objects Of her military cam
paign, and upon persistent reports from
abroad that neutral diplomatists in Ber-
lin were, or soon would be, in possession
OF a confidential communication from the
German foreign office relating to the peace
situation.
No Announcement Made.
At the State Department no announce
nient was forthcoming as to the effect
Of Germany's formal note, which failed
to comply with the Presidents request
for a statement of peace terms. Inquiry
as to possible informal confidential ne
gotiations. however addressed to Coun-
selor Polk Of the department elected the
following reply:
''As to whether Germany has commu-
nicated any secret matter to neutral dip
lomats in Berlin. I would say that as
such a matter would be confidential, the
question could not be asked. But for to-
day 1 am willing to answer: No."
The form of the counselor's answer was
generally accepted as demonstrating the
possibility-or even the probability-of
informal negotiations which would pro-
coed. despite the apparent impasse in
the formal peace correspondence result
ing from the German reply to the Presi-
dents note
Believe Germany Is Ready.
Neutral diplomatists generally credited
reports from abroad that Germany would
siVe to this country. possibly to all neu-
trails, statement OF her peace views. to
be held inviolate until a similar state
ment could be secured from the entente
powers. officials of the German Embassy
declared that they had not beenN advised
't me preparation of any such communi-
cation. but they admitted that they be-
L"ved that developments along this line
were very possible
Another suggestion emanating from
German sources was that a supplement-
"Fy communication from the central
powers might be sent to this country by
I-u't Tarncwsky. the new Austrian Am
h's-'Hdor, who is arranging TO start for
:ShirSton as soon as practicable. 1t
vas stated that the central powers might
be unwilling to commit themselves even
~ secret communication. but that they
would transmit their peace policy state
T:Ient through the new bassador by
word of mouth.
New Move by SPAIN
The possibility of a separate peace
move by Spain last night loomed up
as one of the developments receiving
serious consideration by Washington
G.p'omatists. Ambassador Riano de-
c'ared that he had received no word
from his government relative to the
situation, but that the embassy was
deeply interested in reports from
abroad that Spain might invite the
De!lIgerents to an Immediate" peace
conference along the lines suggested
IN Germany in both of her peace
notes.
Diplomatic circles here. however.
took the view that any separate peace
move at this time would be in the ma
ture OF a side issue. which might sup
plement, but could not supplant, the
general efforts of the neutraIs, headed
by the United States, to end the war.
Peace activity among the neutral din
lomatic representatives continued un-
abated.
Neutral diplomats credited reports
from abroad that Sweden had followed
Switzerland in a note to the bellieer-
ents. indOrsing President Wilson's
peace program.