The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-27
REGAR IT As REFUSAL
OF PRESIDENTS REQUEST

daShed-bOt not utterly uestroSeu~pS
Germanys fat refusal to satisfy Presi-
dent wilson's demand for peace
terms.
ON the surface OF the troubled
automatic seas the outlook for peace
was black. bat administration Of
fctals strained their eyes TO discern
some ray Of light in the situation.
There were two differing views of the
effect OF the German note on the
neutral efforts toward peace. Admin
istration officials, while refusing to
discuss the possibilities, were clearly
pessin,istic. They took the view thar
Germany by insisting on her demand
for an Immediate meeting OF the
beiligerent States" had rejected the
pres,d ent's proposal that both groups
: OF beliigerents set forth their peace
terms This. the State Department be
. l,eves. takes the entire matter out or
the Presidents hands, at least so far
"a. further initiative efforts are con-
cerned. 1t places sauarely before the
entente powers Germanys insistence
on an untrammelled consideration or
terms In conference.
Not All Pessandsttc.
Neutral diplomatic circles did not
exactly share the pessimism of the ad-
rninistrAtion They believed that Ger
rnany's note would not halt the con-
rerted action among the neutral ma
lions In endorsement OF the Presi-
dents peace program, and they IN
sisted that all hope for peace shoulo
not be bandoned until all of the pres
r,re OF concerted neutral action had
been brought TO bear. Several neutral
representatives here declared that
Germany In her note went az far az
she could" and asserted that the
peace move would be continued.
There we're two possible lines or
diplomatic development to which the
peace advocates, with the President al
their head, pinned their hopes:
The vague and unlikely possioil-
ity that the entente powers would
not fatty reject Germany's sugges-
ton in her today's note to the United
states, that peace conference he
called Immediately. The positive at
titude of the entente powers as OUT
lined by Premier Loyd-George' re-
cent speech TO the British Parliament
and the apparent unanimity OF Great
Britain's allies in the determination
to continue the war made this nope
A tenuous one.
The possibility that Germany. de-
spite her formal refusal in today's
note, might by informal comrYfunlca-
ton place in the hands of the United
States a statement OF peace terms, to
be kept secret until a similar state
ment Is forthcoming from the entente
powers This course of procedure
would drag out the negotiations In
terminabty Before a real peace con-
feeencs could be held, both sides
would be forced TO conduct delicate,
detailed diplomatic correspondence. In
an informal manner and in absolute
secrecy. with the United States. Such
. program would probably delay
psaos indefinitely and would certainly
prevent definite action until after
both groups Of belligerents had had
an opportunity to make another test
Of military strength in the spring.
Entente Makes No Comment.
The representatives of the belli-
gerent nations here refused to COM
ment on the German note. although
the British embassy insisted upon it's
recent assumed attitude that the way
toward peace La open and will be kept
open despite continued hostilities
The entente powers diplomatic repre-
sen'auves took the position that their
peace doctrine was included in the
speech of Lloyd George to the British
Parliament, Both groups Of belli-
gerents IN the diplomatic corps join
cd with the State Department in a
refusal to discuss the note until 1t
had been formally received here.
which will probably be some time to-
morrow.
Meantime neutral diplomatists con-
tinued their peace activity, 1t be-
came known tonight that two groups
Of ueutrals have begun diplomatic
negotiations looking toward combined
trtV 1g4 a -
peace program Scandinavian dipls-
mats said that Denmark. Sweden and
Norway had arranged Joint diplo-
matte conference to be held in the
capital Of one OF the Scandinavian ma
tions al once, to decide upon a Joint
attitude toward the peace movement
There was little doubt that the result,
which would be forthcoming prompt
iy, would be a general endorsement
IF the Presidents demand on the
belligerents. One Of the Scandinavian
d!plomat!sts asserted that the German
note today would have no effect on
the peace activities of the neutrals
South American diplomats, who
have all cahled their government for
Instructions as to their position in the
pea'e movement, received informa
notice today that the South American
the present time, and that general in
-structions TO their diplomatists to en-
dorse the Presidents program, either
formally or informally might be ex-
'pec.ed soon The Central American
countries will proba bly, follow the ex
ample OF the South American nations
Or. Ritter At White House.
Continued peace activity among the
gneutrals was indicated by visit tc
. The White House today OF DIR. Pau
Ritter, the Swiss minister. who called
TO inquire as TO the nature of tn.
reception accorded the Swiss note en-
Gorsing the Presidents peace pro
posais The Swiss minister will make
another call al the White House with
in few days TO discuss the peace stu
Alton generally with the Presid lent
DIR. Ritter was extremely anxious tina
the Swiss note should not be rega rdet
as a move IN the interest of the Teu
Tonic nations.
Diplomatic Washington will nov
await with some anxiety the reply o
The entente powers to the President
peace suggestions. Following tn
German note II was generally accepted
That the entente powers will make
similar reply, which would. temper
arily at least. close the incident so IA
as formal negotiations are concerned