Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-16
u. S. WON'T OFFER
TO MEDIATE NOW
Central Powers Peace Notes
to Be Sent to Entente
Without Comment.
AWAIT WORD FROM ENGLAND
Cabinet Considers German
Proposal at Three-Hour
Meeting.

WASHINGTON. Dec. I5.-Presi-
dent Wilson has decided that the
notes of the central powers proposing
a discussiO of peace to the entente
allies will be sent forward by the
American Government acting as inter-
mediary without an accompanying
mediation offer of its own. He has
not determined whether any action IN
behalf of peace Will be taken later by
the United States on It's own account,
but is holding himself In readiness to
serve In any way possible toward
bringing the warning nations together.
The course to be pursued was made
known tonight after the president had
conferred with Secretary Lansing and
after prolonged cabinet meeting. II
was stated that the delay in forward
ing the notes to the entente capitals
was due to the fact that the messages
received from Germany, AuStria-liu
gary and Turkey. identical In sub
stance. differed slightly in phraseol-
ogy as "A result of different transla-
tions. They probably will he put on
the cables tomorrow.
Considered Carefully.
Since the first note arrived. the one
from Germany, the president and his
closest advisers have been absorbed
I'm study of the situation created. The
Austrian note followed and the one
from Turkey came late today. too late
To be translated for the cabinet meet
ing. Those from Germany and Aus
tria have been gone over carefully by
the president and Secretary Lansing
to make certain OF their meaning and
so that they may be sure to properly
represent the intent of the central
powers.
The fact that the cabinet meeting
today lasted more than three hours
and was the most prolonged of the
year attracted profound attention in
official circles and led to all sorts Of
speculation. 1t was explained authori-
tativey later. however. that the
meeting was devoted largely to con-
sideration of departmental matters
and had been prolonged because IL
was the first time since the campaign
that all the members had been pres
ent.
Look TO Entente.
In other quarters than the White
House il was learned that some word
indicating the official attitude of the
entente allies. toward the peace pro-
posai is being awaited with the deep
est interest by the American govern
ment The president will not con-
slider injecting the United States into
the situation until he is thOroly ia
miliar with all its phases. Secretary
Lansing explaining the delay in trans
hitting the communications or the
central powers, pointed out that the
German note was translated into Eng
lish by Charge Grew at Berlin and the
one fram Austria by Ambassador
Penfield at Vienna, while the Turkish
note came to the state department
In French As the communications
were intended to be Identical the
state department does not desire To
transmit three different versions. and
when all three are in hand tomorrow
n plan to avoid this Will he deter
mined upon.
Suggest Another Plan.
Some officials think it would he
safer to direct the three American
ambassadors I'm Berlin, Vienna and
Constantinople to Send on the texts
handed to them by the respective for
eign offices for transmission in then
original form to the countries named
SwitZerland's action in handing
the German note TO Italy without
comment ms announced in the ltaliar
Jarlament by Foreign Minister son
nino. was noted here with interest
Definite indication OF the attltuu'
of the entente allies is expected II
the speech of David Lloyd-George, tn,
British prime minister, next Tuesday
Discusses Disarmament.
Meanwhile the authorized state
ment of the German embassy her'
that partial disarmament VIII be on'
of the subjects taken up at any peace
conference is being discussed in OF
ficial and diplomatic circles will
speculation as to how far in this Ger
many might he willing to go.
American diplomacy in the Nari
Gus questions relating to the wa
may be said to have stopped shor
temporarily with the announcement
the Teutonic offer to talk peace.
Peace has been given the rlsht
way at the department and 1t ha
been physically impossible for OIL
cials. already overcrowded with work
TO give Immediate attention To othe
business waiting on their desks.