The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-11
NO new PEACE MOVE.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS THINK
ILL EFFECT WOULD RESULT
FROM EFFORTS NOW,
Deny That Any Steps Have been
Taken Toward This End, Although
They State That United States is
Always Ready to Tender Her GOOD
Offices to Stop War.

OHhSSS W sup war.
Washington, Oct 5.-No new steps
to end the European war had been
taken by the United States and so
far as officials here can foresee, none
is likely to be taken in the near flu
ture according to an authoritative
statement of the governments posi-
ton, obtained today in high official
circles.
While no official professed to know
what is in President Wilson's mind,
! it was declared that no preparations
had been made for discussion of
peace through the usual diplomatic
channels and that all the information
gathered here seemed to indicate
that such move would be both USE
less and inadvisable. 1t was pointed
out, however, that in a matter of this
nature the president usually keeps
his own counsel and might be infiu-
enced by indications of which the
officials are in ignorance.
Regarding the many rumors that
the United States already had made
mediatory advances to the belligerents
during recent months, it was declared
authoritatively that mediation had
neither been offered by this govern
ment nor suggested to 1t from abroad.
It was fatty stated that no new peace
overtures at all had been made to any
belligerent government and that no
belligerent had indicated that such
Overtures would be welcomed The
United States, it was explained, stands
exactly where it has stood ever since
President Wilson, at the outbreak of
the war. made an open offer to use
the good offices Of the country when
ever requested. Since that announce
ment it was declared, there has been
no change SO far as the American
| government is concerned.
While declining TO be quoted di-
rectly on SO delicate a matter, officials
here are understood to be thorough
~ convinced that any peace move
at this time would be resented as un-
neutral and might impair the govern
ment's standing as a mediator
when the time for action comes. In
support of this belief attention is
called to the formal, declarations of
Switzerland. Norway, Sweden and
the INFORMAL decision of the vatican
to the same effect, the warning
against such attempts sounded recent
ly by David Lloyd-George, the Brit
ish war minister; the Swedish pre-
mier's declaration yesterday that
peace proposals by neutrals would be
futile and other utterances by public
men in belligerent and neutral coun-
tries. Holland and the United States
alone have taken no definite stand
against mediation now, but there is
no expectation here that either will
abandon it's present silence.
Mr.. Lloyd-George's recent state
ments have been spoken of here rs
unnecessarily harsh towards this
country and unwarrantcd by any re-
cent American move. Attempts to
interpret as peace move Ambassa-
dor Won Bernstorff's visit to President
! Wilson next Monday are declared to
be without warrant. 1t was announ-
ced several days ago that the am
bassador intended simply to present
the emperor's personal reply to the
presidents letter on Polish relief.
A close watch is being kept on de-
velopments for any indication that
peace proposals would be welcomed.
Much interest was expressed i'm to-
days announcements that Henry
Ford, founder of the neutral confer
ence at Stockholm, had summoned
Louis p. I.ochner, general secretary
Of the conference, to this country.
1t was pointed out that Mr.. Ford re-
Gently visited President Wilson at
Shadow Lawn, but officials here DO
not believe the president would seek
peace through those channels.