Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-14
GERMANY WANTS
conference ON
Terms OF PEACE
Intimation that Specific Propo-
sition is Withheld Until
Entente is Ready to
Receive 1t.
U. S. HAS DELICATE TASK
Presidents First Concern is to
Safeguard His Usefulness
as Possible Mediator.
ENTENTE MAY STATE VIEWS

Washington, Dec lS.-President
Wilson's course of action in connec-
tion with Germany's peace proposals
remained undecided today, while he
awaited the official profTer which the
central powers have asked the United
States to transmit to their enemies.
The impression grew that while
the presidents first consideration was
to safeguard his usefulness as peace
maker by omitting any comment
which might possibly be coupled with
a rejection by the entente powers,
there was disposition to find some
way, however delicate and informal, to
intimate the sincere wish of the
United States that some basis for dis
cusson at least might be reached.
| Many officials felt that All indication
of the temper of the entente govern
ments should be available before the
influence of the United States was
| thrown into the balance.
The United States by reason of its
dual responsibility OF representing the
interests of most of the central pow
ers and the entente governments in
the capitals of their enemies, would
of course become the medium of COM
munication through which any reply
of the entente governments to the
central belligercnts would be made,
Terms Purposely Omitted.
The German embassy had no fur
thcr advices on the terms of the cen-
tral governments, but ii was admit
ted that terms had purposely been
omitted from the chancellor's speech
and the note because the sole purpose
was to propose conference on terms
and carefully avoid advancing any
which might be made the basis of
refusal
The Germanic diplomats in this
country, rejecting the views OF their
governments, believe the answer OF
the entente allies will be an inquiry
as to the basis on which Germany
proposes peace and with that much
as foundation they see the warning
nations we'll on the way to a confer
encc from which they are sanguine
peace would result,
! Entente May Define Position.
The probability OF the entente
allies themselves making some an
nouncement Of the terms on which
they would make peace is regarded
here as having tremendous possibili-
ties for effect upon the German peo-
pie themselves.
Among the entente diplomats no
attempt was made to disguise their
apprehension that President Wilson,
in transmitting the German proposal,
might make some move toward mcdi-
alton. At all the embassies it was
said such an offer would interfere
seriously with the plans Of the allies.
Its effect upon the peace movements
in the allied countries also was taken
into consideration in that connec-
ton.
| President Cancels Engagements.
The president cancelled all his out
side engagements today, including one
to preside over the annual meeting
OF the American Red Cross, and re-
manned in the White House, where
he conferred with Colonel E. M.
House, his friend and adviser, who
made one trip to Europe to sound
out peace sentiment several months
ago. Colonel House may go again if
the president makes move to ac-
company Germany's proposals with
suggestions of any character.
1t was reiterated that until the Of
fetal documents had been received for
transmitta1 to the entente no deci-
sion could be reached as to. what
the United States would do further
than to transmit them.
The London press comment on the
peace offer is known to be in accord
with confidential advices coming to
this government before Chancellor
Bethmann-H Hollweg's speech and the
note were published. How far the COM
ment represents the views of the new
British government can only be sur
missed
May Ask for Guarantees.
In quarters close to the entente al
lies an opinion prevails that if the
entente allies made reply their first
course might be to inquire what guar
antees would be given by Germany
that the terms OF peace treaty would
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