Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-13
'KAISER'S PEACE PLANS P0PE'S AID IS SOLICITED
Chancellor Won Hellweg Outlines
Proposals Which He Says Have
Approval of Emperor William.

Berlin, Dec. 13.-Germany has no.
asked neutral powers to start peace
negotiations.
The American embassy's under
standing is that she has merely ask.
ed neutral powers to inform the ma.
tions of the entente that the central
powers are willing to discuss peace
putting up to the allies the acquics.
cence or refusal of the tender.
The diplomatic corps here generally
considers the German move master
stroke.
Secretary Greu, of the American
embassy, personally typed Il trans!a-
ton o fthc note, of whirh he received
two copies. one written in French.
The American charge was asked TO
comm .Icate the text to London,
Petrograd, Paris, and Roumaaia; the
Spanish ambassador being requested
to transmit it to Belgium and Portu.
gal, and the Swiss ambassador to
Italy.
The Tageblatt today cautiously
says that everyone should support the
move with full power, since it is per-
haps the first step toward peace.
The Vossiche Zeitung explains that
neutral nations in this instance do not
act as mediators, but merely as car
ricrs Of the proposal.
Berlin, Dec. l3.-Gernlany and her
allies proposed Yesterday to enter
forthwith into peace negotiations.
The propositions which they will bring
forward are, according to Chancellor
Won Bethmann-Hoi!weg, appropriate
for the establishment of lasting
peace.
The Austrian, Turkish and BuI-
garian governments are making SIM
liar proposals. These proposals have
been transmitted also to the Vatican.
The Chancellor yesterday morning
received ore after arother of the re-
representatives. of the United States Of
America and Spain and Switzerland
that is of the states protecting Ger
man interests in hostile foreign
countries. The Chancellor transmit
ted to them note and asked them to
bring it to the knowledge of the hos
tile governments.
The Governments at Vienna. Con-
stantincple and s:aa transmitted
IDENTICAL notes and also communicating
with the Holy See and all other neu-
trail powers.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
announced to the Reichstag that Ger
many, together with her allies. con
scious of their responsibility before
God. before their own nations, betor"
had proposed to the hos
tile powers to enter on peace nego-
tiations. He said:
"On August l. 1914, the Emperor
had personally to take the gravest de-
cision which ever fell to the lot of Il
German-the order of mobilization
which he was compelled to give us q
result of the Russian mobilization.
During these long and earnest years
of the war, the Emperor has beer
moved by a single thought; How
peace could be restored to safeguard
Germany after this struggle in which
she has fought victoriously? No
body can testify better to this than
/, who bear the responsibility for all
actions of the Government. In a
deep moral and religious sense Of duty
towards his; nation and, beyond it!
towards humanity, the Emperor now;
considers that the. moment has come
for official action. toward peace
His Majesty, therefore, in conf
plete harmony and in common with
our allies, decided to propose to the
hostile powers to enter into peace
negotiations.