Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-12-29


tude was construed as indicating that
secret exchanges were expected to
follow If they did not preeede the for
mai answers Of the entente nations
to the notes Of President Wilson and
the central powers. Because of the
highly confidential nature of any such
negotiations, Il is pointed out, the in
termediury would be obliged to re-
frain from admitting even that they
were in progress
Attitude of Allies.
So far as the entente governments
are concerned, it is understood that
little If any confidential information
has reached here to shed more light
on their attitude than has been given
publicly in the speeches Of their pre-
miers and tho comment Of their press.
Consequently there is ng disposition
here to doubt that the allies unani-
mously will refuse to enter any sort
of peace conference until Germany
has Indicated clearly on what condi-
tions she win stop fighting.
on the Toutonc side, while the re-
ply to President Wilson Is regarded
by the German embassy as complying
with President Wilson's suggestion in
Offering a method Of procedure. Ger
many is said to be willing to consider
other suggestions regarding methods
from any quarter, including her en-
omies.
The views OF the German govern
mcnt further are represented to be as
follows:
If the entente considers that guar
.antees for the future are the princi-
pal elements to be achieved, and, lack
ing confidence In the German govern
mcnt, insists upon knowing something
OF the guarantees that Germany Is
wiling to give, the Berlin govern
ment might make some declaration
regarding the principles to which she
ia willing to subscribe, leaving details
for settlement at the proposed con-
.trence. The German government
considers that thore is but little to be
..Yea by going into any lengthy dis
rassion of guarantees for the future
with the present war In progress, IN
this connection Germany it is assert
ed. never has intended that the con-
ference suggested should result inn
mediltcly in the establishment OF
peace, it s considered that it viii ne
ccssarily be Of a preliminary nature
TO determine whether 1t might not be
possible TO end the war
According to the German Dip
lomats, the plan Germany Is
proceeding upon would provide
that the delegates should first
agree upon territorial and Immediate
lv connected terms and that prelim-
mary tentative treaty then should he
settled upon This completed, the
German idea is TO have all the neu-
trails called in to participate in consid-
Grafton of the questions of guaran-
tees for the future. They regard 1t
as matter for the conference to set
tle whether the neutral nations should
become signatory to the entire peace
treaty. or only to that part having TO
90 with guarantees loI Ihe Hil'H'S-
nance of peace in the future, such as
freedom of the seas. Limitation OF
Iprmamcnts, formation of a world
league to enforce peace, and estab-
Ilshment of an international court Of
/ arbitration
Diplomats familiar with the views
| of Germany and her allies were es-
Ipcciauy emphatic tonight in saying
that Germany necessarily would be
able to make much better terms in
confidential negotiations than in pub
lie The radical element in German
politics, it is said, must be considered.
Under any circumstances, however it
was said Germany would not consider