The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-28
Several Days Must Eapse,
However, Before Next Step
on Part Of BeIligerents
Will Be Known.
POWERS MOVE CAREFULLY
World Believes Wilson Has
Something Up His Sleeve
Submarine Controversy
Turks In Background.

washington, Dec. So.--I hTlStiflas, tha
day of peace on earth n toward
men good WILL dawned with the pros
pect for restoration Of an era of world
| calm brighter thar at any time since
August l, 1914, but with the outcoma
of pending negotiations still in doubt.
The next move in the game of diplo-
macy is up to the entente allies. 1t
will be several days. perhaps not be
fore New Years day, before the next
step Is decided. In London 1T is estf-
mated that at least 10 days must elapse
before the proposals Of the central
powers and the notes Of President Will
son can be answered by the entente
| nations, which win frame joint rephes
in both instances.
Meantime statesmen the world over
| are watching, hoping, scheming, as the
| scenery is being shifted for n may
be the closing act Of the worlds most
dramatic event and President Wilson
| moves upstage, accoutered Tor the
| leading role in the scene which may
| bring down the curtain on the drama
| that has shaken the very foundations
Of civilization.
How Situation Shapes Up.
For unquestionably, the American
president has become the central flg-
| ure in world events. Out Of the tangled
skein of currents and cross currents
these facts stand out:
/. President Wilson is universally
believed to have had advance assur-
ances that his proposals would not be
met with flat rejection.
2. The allies have not as yet closed
the doors to peace negotiations,
Germany stands ready to state her
terms, lay her cards upon the table n
enter negotiations.
3. The government OF the Unlted
States was moved to intercede not only
| for humanitarian reasons. but to avoid
! the possibility Of further complications
| with the belligerent powers, particular
~ Germany i'll connection with the
operations Of its submarines.
Some Possibilities.
And while the reply of the entente
nations is impatiently awaited states
men and diplomats are engaged In spec
ulating what the next year Will bring
| forth. Their analyses embrace the fol-
lowing conclusions
/. The restoration of peace and the
formation Of a league of nations to in
sure peace.
9. The departure Of the United States
from it's traditional policy of splendid
ISOLATION and the formation Of an en-
tangling alliance such as Washington
warned the country against.
3. The resumption of hostilfties on an ?
| even greater scale Involving the United
States. which has taken a position that
the government cannot withdraw from
with honor if the impoSitions of bellig-
. erents are pressed further.
There ave been significant develop
| ments in the past As hours. Saturday
Secretary Lansing declared hat If pres
ent negotiations succeed 1t might be
! necessary for the American government
to form an alliance with other nations
TO bring about international enforce
ment of peace guarantees. He said a
discussion of the problem at this time
would be premature, but intimated that
the administration is committed to such
a step.
Press Less Hostile.
The tone of the press comment in the
entente nations has changed. There is
| less of criticism of President Wilson's
| more and more of speculation concern
ing what prompted the American gov-
eminent to act. The belief is generally
expressed that President Wilson has
something up his Sleeve" The British
press particularly expressed the hope
that the presidents hin that peace
may be just around the corner might
| have been based on secret information
| from Germany and q knowledge of the
exact terms Germany is willing to
| make.
Recent disclosures bear out the ear
li' NFSoNI lIoil' NliiI 1 y Ntloo1t
fears the collapse of his policy in the
submarine controversy with Germany.
Germany is understood to haveA5O new
submarines ready for launching in the
spring and intends to resume subsea
| warfare on n greater scale than ever. il
present negotiations fail and it is said
she intends to sink all British ships
without warning as the result of the
announcement that England will ma
tionalize all vessels of English regis
try. The American government is un-
derstood to he considering warning
American Seamen to shun service on
ships which would be classed as mill
tary transports.
May Reshape History.
On every hand it is realized that the
| present situation is Il critical one, and
| hat the future may bring develop :
ments which will reshape the course OF
history.
World attention today centers upon
two men, Premier Lloyd-George, OF
England, and Emperor William, OF
Germany, FOR, it is realized, they will be
the spokesman for their respective al
lianceS.
LOOK FOR ACTION.
Paris, Dee. ga Havas dispatch
from Berne says it is. believed i'm GER
tain circles there that the British gov
rnmen is abort to approach tire bell
ligerents on the subject of peace in The