The sun., 1916-12-04
WILSON IS UNREADY
TO DISCUSS PEACE
President Understood to Be-
!. lieve Mediation Now Really
Would DO Harm.
HINT IN LIBERTY SPEECH
Leaders Of Congress Will Re-
sist Attempts to Force En-
ccutivc's Hand.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-President Will
/. sons speech at the banquet following the
Statue OF Liberty illumination last night
has awakened live interest among diplo-
mats here. Its apparent unneutral as
pect u explained and appreciated by the
fact that the cirCG'r stances necessarily
called for a tribute to France but diplo-
matte interest is centred on the Presl-
dents statement that "peacc cannot come
$50 long as the destinies OF men are de-
7. |. itermined by small groups who make
selfish choices of their own"
=. The consensus OF opinion Is that this
:. Indicates thc President fully realizes the
!. thine In not rip for any EFFORT on his
/. part to initiate negotiations to end the
war. The tenor OF the Presidents re-
. marks Is regarded as rejecting the
/. opinion that the dominating forces In at
- least some of the nations at war are
determined to keep the people fighting,
As the speech was delivered at n cele-
, Grafton virtually in honor OF France.
ssEntente diplomats are inclined to believe
that the President referred to Germany
ssWhen he spoke of the destinies OF the
: nation determined by small groups"
80 Remark IL Taken In Two Ways.
- They regard IL az an indirect charge
- that the German Emperor and his group
:. Of supporters were forcing the German
. nation to fight just as they mad started
: the war. according to the Entente view
/. but Count Won Bernstorn. the German
=, Ambassador. Is understood to believe
- that the Presidents remarks apply more
pointedly to Great Britain thar to Ger
many.
the Imperial Chancellor. IL on record as
y statinE hat Germany was ready to
Tt--- O., -a1arIal In G.arnDn
..circies as proof hat the responsibility
= for continuing the war cannot be laid
at Gernany's door. The German posi-
ton with respect to peace overtures Is
authoritatively described to THE Sun
correspondent to-day as follows: ANY
~proposal from the United States TO nego-
tate for peace would be acceptable to
Germany"
Germany feels that Great Britain is
IN reality more willing to discuss peace
terms than the British statesmen viii
admit. II Is said In German circles tina
recent statements from British officials
q clearly Indicate that they would be Will
Ing to .lsten to anything President VIII
con might say on the subject" and 'tall
about peace" even though they claim Il
be unwilling to sanction any armistic'
or enter into active negotiations. y
Reason for Present Deadlock.
From the German viewpoint the diff
fculty is that peace ak emanatinl
from Germany IL likely to be regarded
by the Entente Allies as a sign OF weak
ness and is likely to be used TO en-
courage Germany's enemies fighting II
the trenches.
From the British and French view
point peace talk emanating from III
United States or any neutral countr
now would be regarded as "A part Of IN
German propaganda and unwelcomed
The Entente Allies take the position tina
they are fighting for liberty and ar
bound to win In the end. They sa
Germany wants peace because the Ter
man Government sees the handwritlnI
on the wall' and knows that In the en-,
the Entente will triumph.
In the face OF these conditions Pres
dent Wilson Is understood to realiz
that any effort to mediate now woul
DO more harm than good and Nigh
vitiate any future effort he might wis
TO make at a more opportune time.
1t Is understood that no effort mad
In Congress to force the President
hand on this question will have tn
backing OF responsible leaders. A fe,
sporadic attempts may be made. bu
the President has given Congress I
understand that the least said abou
this subject now the better.