New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
BernstOrff Admits His
Country Only Hopes
for Conference
WILSON LEAVES
ENTENTE FREE
No Comment Made as He
Forwards Proposal
for Farley

IRON Tie TrDlns bsfra4l
Washington. Dec. Is. President Will
sons refusal TO support officially Ger
many's peace proposals proved a great
disappointment in German quarters to-
day, particularly as it was known that
other neutrals were ready to take their
cue from him. German officials here
had openly stated that Germany expoct'
ed the neutrals of the world including
the United States to give their active
support to the move.
Instead the State Department for
warded the formal notes to-day TO the
Allied capitals in which it represents
the Central Powers without comment
or recommendation of any kind, and
President Wilson let il be known su-
thortatiyely that this government was
not ready to participate. The question
thus becomes one in which the bellig-
erents alone are officially concerned.
The view in German quarters is that
President Wilson's attitude has con
siderably lightened the task Of the
Allies, as they are not embarrassed by
neutral Endorsements Of the idea and
can deal with it purely a. a proposal
from their enemies.
Bernstorff Sees Lansing
Ambassador Won Bernstorf conferred
with Secretary Lansing to-day imme'
diatey after he heard of the decision
President Wilson had reached After
mis- interview with the Secretary he an
nounced that he had not discussed the
American attitude, regarding 1t as
matter of purely domestic policy. He
said that he had merely discussed the
general situation.
The question of terms did not come
up at the interview. The ambassador
said later that he had not received from
his government an official statement o.
the terms that would be proposed at the
conference, and he supposed they would
not be known until the conference met.
All that Germany has proposed IS to
Get together and talk" he said. There
is no mention Of terms. What the terms
are nobody can tell until views have
been exchanged. One advantage Of sucn
conference. no matter what 1t leads
,o i that we can get from all the be-
ligerents a statement of just what they
are fighting for"
Germany and her allies will not dis
close their peace terms until the Allied
ro,vors meet them in conference, "A high
official said tonight following the con
ference between Secretary Lansing and
Ambassador BernstorfF. Moreover. II
the proposals for conference are re
looted Germany will coHtinue the war
for at least another year, according to
a well-informed diplomat.
Germany Claims Advantage
Germany believes, it has been made
known here, that whatever comes OF
,be offer the advantage will be on her
side. II the Allies refuse to confer
,bav will thereby assume responsibility
for continuing the war and at the same
time make it appear that they are
6obtinq an aggressive and not de-
fcnsive war. II they accept the oher
II will be regarded as a confession ihst
they have given up the idea OF bring
ing Germany 10 etonement.
The Allies will have difficulty, it is
,bought. in making their terms under
standable. The Germans are after
concrete thing territory Tor
their allies. buffers on the Russian
frontier and a highway TO the East
The Allies are driving at something IN
tangible-the inculcation Of an idea,
namely, that the Prussian military sys-
TEN is wrong and prohtless. Until this
idea is driven home 10 the German peo-
ple. they believe, peace would mean
merely a return TO the conditions tina,
preceded the war.
LLOYD Georges speech in the Com
mons next Tuesday while undoubtedly
il will give some indication OF the att
tude Of the Allied governments, will
hardly, H. is thought, reveal their anal
answer. Before this can be made, II Is
assumed, the Allies will have 10 confer
and decide on identic action.