The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-12-28
Several Days Must Elapse.
However, Before Next Step
on Part Of BelligereEts
Will Be Known.
POWERS MOVE CAREFULLY
World believes Wilson Has
Something Up His Sleeve
Submarine Controversy
Turks In Background.

Washington, Dec. 2b.--ChrlStmas, tuO
day Of peace on earth and toward
men good WILL. dawned with the pros
pect for restoration of an era OF world
calm brighter than at any time since
August 1, 1914, but with the outcome
OF pending negotiations still In doupt-i
The next move in the game OF dipio-s
macy is up to he entente allies. ~
viii DO several days. perhaps not be
fore New Years day, before the next
step is decided. In London it Is esti-
mated that ct least 10 days must elapso
before the proposals of the central
powers and the notes OF President Wis
Son can be answered by the entente
nations, which will frame joint sepies
In both instances.
Meantime statesmen the world over
are Watching, hoping. scheming, as tho
scenery Is being shifted for what may
bc the closing act OF the worids most
dramatic event and President Wlsun
! moves upstage, ~accoutered LOT tho
leading role in the scene WHOM may
bring down the curtain on drama
that has shaken the very foundations
Of civilization.
How Situation Shapes Up.
For unquestionably, h American
president has become the central Iis.
| ure in world events. Out VI lAlo tanSISN
| skein of currents n cross currents
| these facts stand out: -.
l. President Wilson is universally
believed to have had dvanc assuT-
ances that his proposals would not Dc
met with flat rejection.
2. The allies have not as yet closed
the doors to peace negotiations, ana
/, Germany stands ready to state ne.
terms, lay her cards upon the table ana
enter negotiations.
- of 4hn TInitQd
Stntes was moved to intercede not only
for humanitarian reasons, but to avoid
the possibility OF further computations
with the belligerent powers, particular
ly Germany in connection with tne
operations of it's submarines.
Some Possibilities.
And while the reply of the entente
nations Is impatiently awaited states
men and diplomats are engaged in spec
ulating what the next year Will BRING
forth. Their analyses embrace the fol-
lowing conclusions:
formation OF u league Of nations to IN
SURE peace.
9. The departure Of the United States
from it's traditional policy of splendid
isolation and the formation of an en-
tangling alliance such as washington
warned the country against.
8. The resumption of hostilfttes or an
even greater scale involving theU United
States, which has taken a position that
the cannot withdraw from
with honor If the impositions of beHlg-
ercntS are pressed further.
There have been significant develop
ments in the past 4S hours. Saturday
Secretary Lansing declared that If pres
ent negotiations succeed 1t might be
necessary for the American government
to form an alliance with. other nations
to bring about international enforce
ment of peace guarantees. He said a
discussion of the problem at this time
would be premature, but intimated that
the administration is committed to sucn
a step.
Press Less Hostile.
The tone of the press comment in the
. entente nations has changed. There is
less of criticism of President Wilson'S
more and more OF speculation concern
ing what prompted the American gov.
m to act. The belief is generally
expressed that President Wilson has
Something up his sleeve" The British
press particularly expressed the nope
that the presidents hint that peace
may be just around the corner might
have been based on secret information
from Germany and a knowledge of the
t exact terms Germany is willing tt
( make.
, Recent disclosures bear out the ear.
:. Her assertions that President Wilson
fears the collapse OF his policy in thu
submarine controversy with Germany
Germany is understood TO nave 15D new
: submarines ready for launching in TIL,
spring and intends to resume subse;
: warfare on n greater scale than ever, i
present negotiations fail and 1t is sait
j. she intends to sink all British Ship
without warning as the result of TIL,
announcement that England will ia
%tionalize all vessels of English regis
: try. The American government is I'm
dcrstood to be considering warnin;
American seamen to shun service o.
ships which would be classed as mill
: tary transports.
May Resiape History.
On every hand it is realized that tn
present situation is a critical one, an
that the future may bring develop
ments which will reshape the course @
history.
World attention today centers upo
two men. Premier L~loyd-George, q
8 England, and Emperor William, c
g Germany, for, it is realized. they will b
. the spokesman for their respective al
: liances
: LOOK FOR ACTION.
. Paris, Dec. GA Havas dispatc
= from Berne says it is believed IN Ger
: tain circles there that the British gov
= is about to approach the bel
y ligerents on the subject OF peace in til
. same way as the Swiss president.
y pATRIHk MU MARRY