Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-15
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE note
conveying the proposal for peace by the
central powers which the United States
is to transmit to the entente belliger-
ents arrived during the night and was
prepared for President Wilson early to-
day.
The document was said to be sub
stantially the same as published in the
unofficial dispatch from Berlin in the
report of the Overseas News Agency.
Accompanying it was a confidential re-
port from American Charge Grew. I'M
derstood to be an outline of affairs
which led up to the German chancellor's
speech in the reichstag and the sending
of the peace proposals.
AS soon as President Wilson has seen
the note it will be forwarded to Minis
ter Whitlock in Belgium. Ambassadors
Sharpe. Page, Guthrie and Francis in
France. England, Japan and Russia and
to the legations at the Serbian and Ru-
manian governments.
The actual uransmittal of the peace
proffer now brings up the important
question of whether President Wilson
will decide to act merely as an inter-
mediary or whether he will accompany
the transmittal with some expression of
hope that the proposals for considera-
ton of peace shall not be rejected with
out examination and reflection. There
is a prevailing opinion here that the
president wants to do something of the
sort and is looking forward to some
movement for a league of nations to
preserve peace as one of the elements
of the settlement of the war. 1s.s.-
1t is possible that some means may
be taken to establish a little more
definitely the temper of the entente al
lies toward peace proposals, before the
president acts, but it is understood
there will be no delay in forwarding the
German note to the foreign belligerent
capitals.
NOTE READ CAREFULLY.
After reading the German note care
fully Secretary Lansing said that while
there were some differences in transla-
ton when compared with the UNOFFICIAL
COPY, and while the order of arrange
ment of SOME of the paragraphs was a
little different there was absolutely no
change in meaning. Mr. Lansing said
the note would go forward to the belll-
gerents presumably today and that no
decision had been reached as to whether
the United States would accompany -
with any expression.
At least one of the neutral European
diplomats already has sent a dispatch
to his home government asking to be au-
thorized to assure President Wilson OF
the support of his government in sending
some expression to the allies designed
TO influence them to give consideration
to the offer to discuss peace. There are
indications that some of the other neu-
trails may follow suit.
The German embassy today had no
new advices on the situation.
The Spanish ambassador, Mr.. Riano.
was an early caller at the state depart
ment and conferred with Secretary Lam
sing. He said he had advises from Mad
rid that his government also had recelv'
ed the German note for transmission TO
those entente countries where it repre-
sents the central powers automatically
The Swiss minister, DR.. Ritter, also
called on Secretary Lansing. His visit
coupled with the fact that ore other neu-
trail is moving to support the president IN
any effort to secure consideration OF
peace, led to the belief that the attitude
of the United States toward such a-gen-
eral movement by neutrals was at least
being sounded out.