The sun., 1916-12-14
WILSON IS CAUTIOUS.

WILSON IS CAUTIOUS.
WAsAingte. Gets Ne Intimation 81
what wilso. viii No.
w~AsHINoroN. Dec. is.-In No way has
President Wilson indicated what his
course Of action 10 to be with regard
to the proposal Of the Teutonic allies
that the nations engaged In the world
war dlscuss peace. This h entirely apart
from the duty Of this Government to
act as the transmitting agency for the
identic note OF the Teutonic Powers TO
their enemies, suggesting that they dis
ouss peace. The simplest course would
b merely to have our Ambassadors pre-
sent the note to the Governments to
which they are accredited without add
ing any supplementary comment Of any
hind. But the all important question
before the President now 10 whether
any supplementary suggestion to this
note would help or hinder the movement
for peace which Il 10 hoped has been
initiated by 0ermany's action.
The idea that the President. fully
conscious Of the momentous character
Of the communication which 10 to pass
through the hands Of this Government,
may reel himseif warranted In address,
nc some separate communication TO the
Dntente hA'ione oy way OF expressing
the desire OF this country Z see peace
brought about. still prevails In some
quarters. There 10 a suggestion that
the President might add to the German
note the willingness Of this Govern
ment to transmit IN reply the Entente
aAtions may have to make to the Ger
man proposal and In this way open the
ooor possibly 70 a request that 1t act
- mediator.
""so" sees Neeo for CeutSon'
But the Indications tonight were that
the President was more than ever con.
WINGED Of the necessity Of extreme eau
ton n that II anything he was inclined
to make no move until the attitude OF
England and her allies was shown In
some way other thai. merely the press
comments. The President could. II he
y desired. make through our
Ambassadors In this connection the
proposed speech or Llovd George Is rec
cgnized as an Induction OF how n sur-
sestion from the President as to the de-
siraoility OF peace discussion might be
roceived. This speech Is to De made
o'tner tomorrow or early next week. III
mAue next week II would ne possible TOT
our Ampassadors ever before men 70
.sceItaih the receptiVi'y OF inc Allies 10
INC oern1ah proposa!,
fresIuent ana secretary LANSING
~ III, somewna. hafhpeIed III hot nav
,n1 ca,nr e me" German, nn, oIncaan Som
"a \ late hour this evening. Communica-
Scrtv.eivht hour, 20 raach ,hi. coun,rv
rhs prs.ident ta,ked to.dav with nj,
frfend 20, House ana later. before ~.
turning TO New York. Col. House made I,
eaii on Secretary Lansing in the stat,
Oepartment. Col. House left this ofter
moor for New York. The suggestion tina,
he might be contemplating another trir
abroad as an unoficial emlssary Of tn,
President in the interest Of peace 10 no
credited here.
The President Is following his usua
course and keeping his own counsel II
this matter. save for Col. House he ha.
not called In any one to advise with him
The TACT that Spain and Switzerlan,
may either or both OF them seize the OPP
portunity presented in the German pro
posal to expires the hope that a peace pro
cussion can be brought about In no
being overlooked here. should either o
them do so this Government would hay,
to remain out of II or take the position
OF supporting their suggestion. TIL,
President In that case might be deprived
Of the leading role Of peacemaker. which
II Is known he would like to figure 1,
provided tina opportunity warrants 4
n he could essay 1t with propriety.
SITUATION decidedly Ticklish.
The view is taken nv many h.ro g.,
eludins some who have had vrea, ~
'@' IN
anv ac,ion hv ,h,. oo'sn a,.a's' Una
ths mere tran.mi,,o, ~, ,h.e. oeyon'
bs nm imnronr,.,u '" no,e woult
c..,a,n,v - ""u YOU'D Amos
ss ma,,.rs &C. 80 ma, - because
~ s.sno, oh'y one or the parties
" 'ne ~s'rusgie mas mus FAR expressed
eny oesire TOT peace Only when thu
other side shows that II too entertak N.
euch a desire would this Government b,
5ustihed v in expressing In some com