The Washington herald., 1916-12-14
U. S. WILL ACT
when OFFICIAL
TEXT ARRIVES
President Declared to Have
Stated His Determination
to Close Advisers.

President Wilson let Il be known
among his closest advisers yesterday that
he would urge the entente allies by the
most effective means he can command
to accept Germany's proposal for q peace
parley il such a move can Be consistent
ly made.
The precise course Of action viii not
be determined until the ofaciaI taxi Of
the note is received here. Already, how
ever. several experts on international
law who are not directly connected with
the government have been called into
conference.
The President plans, It n said. 70 am
pity his request that the peacs sur-
gesuons be given consideration with a
nouncation Of q desire TO commit the
oeuhserents ultimately 70 an association
OF nations designed to keep peace
President Awaits Messax..
At the conclusion Of q long conferenos
With Col. E NJ House early in the day
the Chief Executive ordered all enFaEe-
ments which would take him away from
the White House cancelled. At a lata
hour last night he was sim occupieo
with the news reports which told Of the
effect OF the peace talk, with particular
reference to England
Col. House. after the conference with
the President, went to the State DEPART
ment where he was closeted with Score
tary Lansing for an hour. Later he Iefs
Washington for New York. Col House
has made two voyages, TO Europe as
President Wilson's personal represenax =
tive IN the Aterests of psAcs. n
Il have no definite plans. was "a y
only statement he could be induced to
make.
President Wilson is understood 70 have
been greatly encouraged by the London
press reports. These are said 70 have
been accepted at the White House as
indicating that the English people would
not reject the proposal to discuss peace
until the note had been given careful
consideration. In other quarters opinion
differed widely
Rejection Looked For.
The belief was expressed in allied circles
that the German offer would be natly
rejected. The ground was taken that
Germany could not be depended upon
to keep her word. II was predicted
that the formal rejection would point
I to the invasion OF Belgium by Germany
as proof that her word was valueless.
Expressions of a more optimistic char
acter were obtained at the German En-
that the allies would consent TO talk
peace was voiced there. This hope was
based on the belief that the people them
selves in the various warning countries
want peace. 1t was believed the several
governments would be unable to resist
the popular pressure in favor Of q oes-
sSion of hostflities.
was intimated that the German note
pulposely fails TO name terms In order
to deprive the entente allies of an ex-
cuse TO reject the offer
The announcement that Great Britain,
speaking for her allies, may reply TO
the proposal by stating the only terms
upon which she will agree to discuss
peace, was not taken seriously IN Ger
man diplomatic circles. The point was
made that no conference OF the char
acter proposed had ever been success
full where the terms were permitted to
become the subject OF public debate.
State Department WARY.
In the event OF an agreement for q
peace conference Il Is not believed that
II could be held before the middle OF
January. The probable meeting place. II
was generally agreed, would be at Ths
Hague
AT the State Department IL was learned
that no foreign correspondence is being
sent out which would in any way con-
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.