The Washington herald., 1916-12-30
WILSON BACKED
BY SCANDINAVIA
Norway, Sweden and Den
mark, in Notes, Indorse
Peace Proposals.

Scandinavia swung in behind President
Wilson's peace plans yesterday. with the
transmission OF practically identic notes
from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, in
dorsing the proposals Of the United
States to the belligerent nations.
Before the New Year begins, diplomatic
Washington believes that the pan-Ameri-
can nations will join the movement. and
the belligerents will be confronted with
a peace demand from practically the en-
tire neutral world.
Peace conferences between the Ameri-
can Ambassadors at Berlin and London
and representatives OF their respective
foreign ofices were reported In advices
received here last night, but no an
nouncement was forthcoming as to the
result of these discussions. They were
accepted as hopeful indications, how
ever.
Negotiations VIII Progress.
The Administration made it plain that
no matter how discouraging the peace
outcome may be, every possible diplo-
matte pressure will be brought to bear
on the beIligerents. The President will
keep his negotiations in progress, no mat
ter what the reply Of the Entente Allies
to his peace note may be, hoping that
even II peace is impossible at this time
he Will be able to force consideration
of peace terms during the coming year.
The ministers of the Scandinavian
countries declared last night that the
notes transmitted yesterday were the re-
II Of joint action by Norway, Sweden
md Denmark and that the three nations
took the same friendly attitude toward
tn" Presidents peace efforts.
Turkey Joined with her Teutonic allies
in their suggestion for an immediate
rRaCe conference in note received here
Yesterday. The Turkish reply to the
Presidents rOte was practically the same
il a general way rs the replies of Ger
mary and Austria. There was dis
position last night. in diplomatic cir
=. 5, 20 regard the Teutonic reply as more
f-voTab!e than at first supposed.
- the German Embassy pointed out,
Iu.5'Gcut Wilson's note did not specih-
ely ask that the United States be ac-
.. ir.nt"G directly with the peace terms
o. tie bcIligerents. 1t simply asked that
lie terms be made known.
secret Terms Possible.
Diplomatic Washington took the view
h"t Germany could comply with the
,s'dent's demand by secret negotia-
.."HS. Cither directly. or through the
E,f~d States which would place be-
fore the entente powers some form OF
Trace terms. The conferences of the
american Ambassador at Berlin anG
T"1dou lent some strength to this view.
alth0uah 10th the State Department ana
the BELLY, rent embassy natly declined
20 discuss th"se matters in any way.
The 4 slr7.rj~tratioH yesterday lent
srel:tH 20 .hc belief that further
r'sotjasiors are to be Of a deeply con-
fidertiaI ra:ure. by adopting a policy OF
absolute - rcCy. Administration officials
were careful how ever to make it clear
that the Init states is in no way COM
rl-tteI TO any joint action with the
cyr!'raI powers.
TN. feared that the constantly cir
crIIated reports that this country is serv-
ing the interests OrCicrn1ny and Austria
in her efforts for peace would seriously
t4p,pAr the Presidents plans, and might
C~dInGcr the success of the entire peace
r.svement Unless these reports are
promptly disposed Of. the administration
bows that it car expect little co-opera-
ti~n from the entente allies.
Run'cr3 hat Sir Cecil SpTing-Rice, the
british Ambassador was to leave his post
were revived yesterday. and they met
~tE the usIal interested reception in
d;0Ior: attic ,:rcIes Diplomatic Washing
ton. however, b-Iieves that Spring-Rice' 5
s,ryi IS have Heen of a nature which
woulG make his departure entirely a
r7atter Of his own desire.