The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-12-31


ing only as an intermediary between
the belllgerents and because a policy
of silence has been adopted during
this stage of the peace negotiations.
The unofficial opinion which prob
ably was reflection OF the Official
hope for progress towards peace was
that some means for further ex-
change between the warning powers
would be found and that even IL the
present negotiations fail. basis has
been laid which 1t was hoped would
make for progress In the final analy-
sis.
First Informal comment by one
official who had a chance to study
carefully an official forecast and who
checked against 1t the full press text
was that the Allies had responded
very much as expected, that they had
played their strongest cards for NOR
al support among their own people
and In neutral countries. and that
while they had made 1t hard for Ger
many to reply without decidedly
changing it's tone, they had still left
the door open for another advance.
Deeply PcIplcxed.
Official Washington however, was
deeply perplexed as to the future and
admitted that it probably depended
on the internal conditions and conf
dence of the two warning groups, and
secondly on how far President VIII
son would decide to push his own
peace efforts. on the whole first
comment indicated that hopes for an
early peace may have diminished but
not disappeared
After reading the unofficial text
of the note Count Won BernstorfI,
the German ambassador, Issued the
following statement:
4President Wilson having suggest
ed the finding Ola method Of start
ing terms, do not think that this
note will be answered by my gov
eminent until after the Entente Al
lies have replied to the presidents
suggestion, stating Il they do desire
the modus they propose"
BernStorR Not Pleased.
The German ambassador was out
wardly not favorab1y impressed with
the tenor Of the note. However, the
declaration that "a mere suggestion
without statement of terms, that
negotiations should be opened is not
an offer OF peace" was taken to con-
tain yelled invitation to give terms.
The next steps by the American
government will not be determined
Until the Entente Allies reply 70
President Wilson'S note is received.
1t is expected within few days.
While it is expected to follow In q
general way the tone of the note re-.
ceived today officials believe 1T will
make clear whether any good will be
accomplished by further efforts on
the part Of the president.
Read by Wilson.
The Entente reply was notBsad by
OF
fetal dispatches from abroad he
knew OF its general tenor but he
did not tell even his closest advisers
what he thought of 1t.
German embassy officials pointed
out that since the first peace offer was
made BY the Central powers. 1t is in
dicated that the Entente demanded
terms as a preliminary to considering
It, The Central powers have in
formed President Wilson that they
desire to give their terms at. a con-
ference. The embassy considers that
1t is now for the Entente. replying to
the presidents note. to say whether
they want the terms which they con
slider essential to an offer for peace
conveyed to them, and if SO in what
manner.
To FORWARD Text.
The official text of the note which
reached the state department late
today will be forwarded to the
American diplomats in those coun
tries where this government repre-
sents the Entente Allies just as soon
as Secretary Lansing knows that the
official text Is complete and exact.
There will be no necessity for the
delay that was experienced with the
Central powers proposals, as the En-
.tente text came in a single Joint ote,
whereas the four Central powers sent
on four separate notes which We're
differently translated by each Of the
four American ambassadors in those
countries and had to be co=ordinated
here to one official text In English.
It is thought probable that the
note may go forward tomorrow as it
lis desired to have as little delay as
possible. 1t Will require about forty
eight hours to reach Berlin and Wen
ma and perhaps little longer to ar
rive at Sofia and Constantfnople. NO
American comment Is expected to be
attached to the note. None was at
Stached to the Central powers pro
posal when re=forwarded from here
to the Allies. President Wilson'S
note Is thought to give this country
full opportunity to express its views
without In any way attempting tc
confuse the Teutonic notes and their
replies with the presidents note.
Preside nt. Wilson has been very
careful to disassociate his own note
from the German proposals. especial
ly as the coincidence IN time Pc
tween the two on a basis of hostile
comment in the Allied countries.
The official text will not be made
public by the state department MOI
will any indication be given as tc
whether it agrees with the press text
The state department feels most
earnestly that 1t Is the amere messen-
ger OF the various belltgerents whose
Interests It represents in the hostile
countries and regards the negotia'
Itions as sacredly confidential. Any
sort of publicity. must, therefore, be
left to the governments concerned.
Policy OF Silence.
Is This feeling is Increased through
the belief that the only direct inter
lest that this government has in th'
\ IT, i ~ y,ryI