New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-28
Teutons Left Opening
for Crushing RetOrt,
London View
REPLY TO STATE
OBJECTS OF WAR
Will Not Give Terms -
British Think Germany
Ready TO Yield
BY ARTHUR S. DRAPER

lBy Cable TO me Trbus.l
London, Dec. 27.-Germany's reply
to President Wilson's note is inter
pretcd here as merely clever at
tempt to draw the Allies terms. But
the Kaiser's haste to get in first is
likely TO prove a boomerang, for
the Teutons have left an opening
through which the Allies are bound
to send home a crashing blow. ] am
not permitted to give the details of
this.
So far as the proposed conference
is concerned. official circles here in
sist there is no possibility of the
Allies consenting to it unless Ger
many is willing to tell her terms first.
The Allied reply to the Presidents
note is under consideration, but will
not be sent until after that replying
to Germany. 1t is understood that
in the reply 70 Wilson the Allies will
state the objects which they hope to
attain. if not the specific terms which
they consider necessary to insure
them.
Peace Is in the Air
The Allies want the support Of
America. and there is feeling now
that their reply will show that they
are justified in expecting 1t. The
first flare of bitterness over the Pres
ident's note has gone out. the undor-
standing between the United King
dom and the United States is improv-
ing. and saner views are dominating
the situation.
In spite Of the determination to re-
ject all peace negotiations on any such
basis as has yet been offered, peace IS
in the air here as thick as the fog
which for the last two days has been
enveloping London. 1t is impossible TO
escape il. After the holidays and the
prorogation Of Parliament it was
thought that the peace talk would de
down. but il 10 livelier topic than
ever.
By thi. il must not be thought for
minute that the empire is seeking
neace. Five minutes talk with the first
man met on any street will prove that
the country is perfectly willing to fight
on. and the fact that the British fronts
in France and Macedonia have been eX-
tended shows that Britain is willing to
shoulder a greater share of the mill
tary as we'll as the financial burdens.
The belief in peace, illogical as 1t
NAV seem. is due to growing convic-
tion that Germany is so ANXIOUS tor
peace that she may make 1t worth wni'e
for the Allies to grant 1t.
Think Germany Will Yield
Opinion here holds that there is
really strong desire in Germany lot
neace-a desire that may make her WILL
inc 70 nav as much for peace as the
Allies are willing to pay for the at
tainment of the objects for whieh they
have been fighting.
The chief obstacle to peace now is
believed 10 be the fear in nigh German
places Of the effect on the German peo-
nle Of being called on to pay that price.
TIL. German people have been syste-
,,a,icallv deluded regarding the
strength OF the belligerents. and the o.
ficisls dread the result oil their fuue
awakening. ~
,aror, tone in the German reply 20
President Wilson. and as result tne,r
or.r answer 10 Bethmann-Hollweg VII
=. considerably altered from the hrst
6raf. Britain and France are under
TODD 70 have agreed on the Original
6raft and Russia's note has been re
o.;ysd in Paris. II was hoped TO start
,be completed reply on its way to Ger
many by the end OF this week, out II
r,sv pow be several days into the ne"
year before IL goes forward.
Speed Imperial Conference
The note to President Wilson will
follow. The Allies are united IN pc
lieying that they cannot now state the
terms specifically on which they woulc
r,ass peace. Any statement OF terms
nov would have 20 be on the basis OF
tho war map, which they admit IS
against them. They expect 10 change
this before they lay down their de
msnds. But they hold that Germany,
az the apparent victor to-day, as well
As the mover for peace. should and
must state her terms before anything
further can be done.
understand that the Swiss and
Swedish peace notes will be followed
before the end Of the week By similar
endorsements Of Wilson from Holland
and Spain.
II IS now believed that the imperial
conference will meet considerably
earlier than the end Of February, as
had been planned, so As to get the
views OF the dominions regarding
peace.
In the meanwhile the new govern
ment is going forward with its plans
for a more vigorous prosecution OF the
v-ar-plans which are equally neces-
.ary for meeting the early peace prob
lens.
DIR. BRUsH's KIMyss, Not medicine