The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-13
UNITED STATES
To SUBM|T The
GERMAN OFFER
MAY USE INFLUENCE
FOR CONSIDERATION,
Wilson Will Take Steps tol...
Learn Attitude Of Allies
MAY Send Col. House.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. 12.-Ger-5
many's proposal for peace is regarded.
here as having broken the chains
which for months have restrained the
United States, as well as other neu-;
trails from making OFFERS Of mediation.
Now that one set of belligerents has
signifed its willingness to discuss,
peace terms-a condition often reiter.:
ated as necessary to any action bys
President Wilson - there are tndic1::
tions that when the United StateS,2
acting as intermediary, transmits the.
German proposal it may accompany.
it's action by some steps, necessarily,
delicate, Do throw the influence OF tho
United States into the balance for at
least a consideration, however, pre-;
liminary. of tile terms on which -
lasting peace might be brought to the
world Some ranking officials Of the,
American government believe q league
of nations such as President Wilson
has suggested must be the outcome,
and it could not be perfected without
the participation Of the United States.5 !
Whether the United States VIII.
transmit the German proposal sFltnonsj
any comment whatever, or accompany
it with some formal or informal iex:l
preston, will not be finally decided
until the note delivered to American.
Charge Grew in Berlin reaches PreSls
dent Wilson's hands, probably 'tom9El
row.. ...-.>-...> - - ~; ~;
President Wilson might ind some way
to express the solemn and earnssc
wish of the United States for careful
consideration Of the: suggestion OF
14R@ fhn
ernments have made known their At.
titude toward the German proposal.
This, it was pointed out, would neceH;s
sarlly be done in such a.deHcate ami
ultra confidential way that It never
would be publicly known should inc
Allies decline the offer. This course
was said to be absolutely necessary 20
as to leave the United States free ana
unembarrassed to act when an ac-s
ceptable peace offer comes
To Learn Attitude.
Regardless of whether PreaMent:
Wilson decides to accompany tho Ger
man proposal with any WORD, II W3S
said tonight he unquest1onabv woulo
take steps to learn the attitude OF mo
Entente Allies toward the peace move
and possibly might again sen9 70:
Europe his personal friend and ADVISER,
lJOl q.
None of the official despatcheo nao
arrived tonigb The governments
first information was conveyed In the
Associated Press dispatches from Bot.
lin. President Wilson. was said 70 %
deeply interested, but reservtng com.
ment." Secretary lansing MAINTAIN.
ed a similar attitude. The caones
discussed the development at It's reSo- !,
lar Tuesday meeting, but the situA'
ton was described by members as 20
obviously delicate that no announce.
ment could be made.
The absence Of any specific teamS
for peace in the note, or In the Ger
man chancellor's speech was IN p
measure a disappointment to those
who expected some concrete express
sion OF a basis on which negotiations
might begin. The German embassy,
however, is in possession OF advicee
which outline In general way WneS
Germany expects, and the diplomas
OF the Entente Powers, through tneE
means Of being supplied with informa'5
ton, believe they have general loeA
of what terms the Central Powers a[e