The Washington herald., 1916-12-13
DEPENDS
ON ATTITUDE OF
UNITED STATES
War May Be Ended if Presi-
dent Makes Strong and
Definite Plea.

The scales of peace or war have
been placed in the hands of Presi-
dent Wilson. according to the belief
in German circles here. In these
quarters last night it was thought
these scales were so evenly balanced
that they would tip to that side on
which the President throws the weight
of his influence.
No event since the declaration of
war in 1914 has stirred Washington
so profoundly as the news that the
German Chancellor had submitted a
formal offer to the allied govern
ments to discuss peace. Two ques-
lions were uppermost in the minds of
every one in official life. The first
one was, what are Germany's terms of
peacea And the second. to what ex-
tent will the President bring pressure
to bear to induce an acceptance of
the German offer?
PRESIDENT DEEPLY INTERESTED
The President showed the deepest
interest in the news. In the alb
sence of official information he gave
orders that the press wireless dis
patches from Berlin be brought to
him as fast as they were received.
He remained in the Executive Office
until late reading these reports.
At the White House last night it
was stated unof6cially that the Presi-
dent was anxious that the United
States should play a greater part than
that of mere messenger. 1t was said
that the German offer furnished the
opportunity which he had been seek
ing for months. 1t was declared to
be certain that the earnest desire of
this government for early peace would
be made known to the belligerents in
the near future. even if such a COM
munication does not actually accom-
pany the note conveying Germany's
offer to the allies.
Transcript Not Received.
As regards Germany's peace terms, it
was authoritatively stated that up to a
late hour last night no official transcript
of them had been received from Berlin
either at the German Embassy or at the
State Department. Early reports in
dicating that Germany had officially
indicated her willingness to make peace
on a basis of the restoration of Belgium
and Northern France, and a guarantee
of the independence of Poland and
Lithuania. leaving the status of the Bal
kans to be determined by the conference
were dismissed at the German Embassy
as pure speculation.
The belief at the Embassy was that the
German Chancellor had purposely
omitted any definition of the terms IN
order to make it easier for the allies to
accept the offer. The belief was ex-
pressed that il the allies will agree mere
ly to discuss the terms. a basis of settle
ment can be arranged and the war Will
come to an end.
Germany's action was carefully timed
1t was pointed out last night that II came
shortly after the speech by Lord Derby
who is still member Of the British gov
ernment. in which he declared that the
allies were ready to listen to proposals
In view of that speech. it was said. the
allies could not now refuse with any good
grace to listen to formal offer such as
that which is now on its way to Presi-
dent Wilson to be transmitted to Great
Britain, France. Russia. Belgium, Serbia
Rumanla and Japan. These are the
countries in which the United States rep
resents not only Germany. but also
Austria Hungary.
Another indication of the timelinesS Of
the proposal pointed out last night was
the fact that there is now no fighting of
CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX.