The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-12-15

ISP"'i'S ioi IuTtHeT SuHerlnR OF
mankind, loss of life and property.
Germany wants peace and does not
desire conquest, 1 cannot say any.
thing about the terms"
Germany, it is said here. was NOV
ed to bring out the peace proposal
at this time principally because she
had given up hope that President
Wilson would make move. An
other controlling factor was the re.
cent crisis in the British govern
ment and the reorganization of the
government there and in France.
The coming of winter and the conse-
quent lull in fighting which would
give opportunity for peace overtures
before the belligerents prepare for
another spring campaign was still
another factor.
Would Force Showdown.
One of the principal objects, how
| ever, was to force showdown" and
| draw from the Entente allies some
indication of whether they are dis.
posed to make peace now or whether
they are determined to crush Ger.
many and dismember her.
Diplomats of the Entente allies
ere regard the peace offer as havinc
the double purpose of placing upon
the Allies the responsibility for con
J ltnuing the war. and for impressing
upon the German people that they
/ are fighting defensive conflict
against enemies who refuse quarter
! Coming Immediately after the cui-
mination of the triumphant Ruman-
ian campaign. the peace offer. En-.
tente diplomats say. is intended also
to impress the German people thar
they need have no lack OF confidence
in their government to continue the
war.
The actual procedure in conveying
Germany's proposal to her enemies.
according to precedent, begins with
Charge Grew forwarding the note to
Washington. The State department
then will forward it to the American
ambassador resident in the country
to be addressed and he in turn pre-
sents ii to that government. actint
in the interest OF Germany and her
allies.
One immediate effect of the peace
developments upon the United States
will be to hold in allegiance practical
ly all the diplomatic issues pending
a ntyin
submarine issue with Germany, the
protest against deportation OF Bel
gians, the controversy with Great
Britain over mails and commerce. all
will mark time until il becomes ap.
parent whether they will be solved
by the advent of peace
Regardless of how far Germany's
proposals may be expected to go to-
ward ending the war, it was regard
ed as of the greatest significance that
for the first time in two and a half
iyears OF war one group of belliger.
enrs had addressed the other on the
subject through the channels of
ldiplomacy.
IN German quarters here il is be
llieved that any sort of an armistic,,
ldrring a discussion of peace plans
would be out of the question, because
this is an economic as well as mill
~ war
Meantime the Centra. Powers. il l.
said. expect all neutrals to encour-
age peace talk
SO far as has been disclosed no
intimation reached the American n
government forecasting the action
of the Central Powers. Today a dis
patch sent from Berlin Sunday night
t. the German embassy announced
the intention of the government to
make public peace proposals prob
blv Tuesday" This was taken II
indicate that the move had been de.
cided upon Saturday or Sunday and
probably after Emperor William >
fvehour conference with Gen Won
Hindenburg.
As the texts of the chancell ors
speech, the note to the bellgerents
and the note to the Holy See were
published. it became apparent thar
the Germanic allies had not propos
ed specific peace terms. but rather
rad initiated a movement for peace.
and il became apparent that the mat
ter resolved itself in effect into ar