Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-14
HELP j. s. TOWARD
MEDIATION OFFERS
Germany's Proposal Gives This
Country and Other Neu.
trails a Chance.
DELICATE MATTER YET.
German Embassy and Eutcnt, niri,.
mats at Washington Give view, on
Teuto1ic Allies Desires.

a.5tlinston, iEc. t2.--Co.n.af,~e -r,..
poaal for peace - regarded here a., T. 49,.
/ ing broken the chains which ro.. ,.....i,,
! nave restrained tie Tinted state. q,
! Wen as o'hc- ncutrais, from maxim. ,.f.,.
of mediation.
/ Nov that one act Of bolnso-.rt. r.,,
H'si'rned lta Willingness TO discuss neace
'criiH'-a condition often reiterated ass
necessary t. amy ar.ipn Nv rres,d,pt
Ni!Hon-there axe Publications thai whom
the United states, acting Us TIE inter
nleiiary, transmits the German proposs,
L. may accompany its nc.ion T., .oo-
steps, ncces sarly delicate to .h-,,, tho
influence OF the United States into ths
, balance FOR at lea't a conSidcra Jon. how.
: ever, preliminary OF tho terlno ON ,chicb
u tasting peace might be brought 4, IN.
world. Some ranking officials OFF the
American government believe "a l.asue
Of nations such as President Wilson has
suggested must he the OUTCOME. and if
could not he perfected without tn.
participation OF tho United stale.
Whether the United States viii trans
init the German proposal sci bout any
comment whatever. or accompany It with
some formal or informal EXPRESSION. win
uverod to American Chari'o Grr,y in Bcr-
lin reaches President Wilson's hands.
probably tomorrow.
There were md cat tons tonight that
president Wilson might find some way
10 express The solemn and earnest wish
OF the United states for careful con-
slderation OF the suggestion of peace.
even before the entente governments
nave made known their attitude toward
the German proposal This. IT was
pointed out, would necessarily b" done in
such delicate and ultra CONFIDENTIAL way
that it never would Ice publicly known
should the allies decline the offer. This
course was said to be absolutely ncccs.
Sary 50 Us to leave tho United States
free and uncmbarra-sSod 10 act when an
acceptable peace offer come.
GERMAN EMBASSY'S VIEWS.
Recent dispatches - ,he q rnan en-.
bassy. covering "a wide rangc OF sub.
Jects. indicat. a belief that tn general
terms might be in substance a. folloW..:
a restoration OF tho status quo cx!stIns
before the war. This includes tho evacu.
alton OF Belgium and the restoration ui
the occupied portions OF northern France
with the exception of Alsace and !.0r-
raine. No authorized expression was
obtainablc from the embassy a. to
whether conditions would be attached to
the restoration of Belgium and French
territory. but it was understood that the
German idea was to make provision for
the future neutrality of Belg! um and
propose deiortificaton part!cu-
larry OF the city of Antwerp. II was also
understood that no conditions amounting
10 economic control Of the mineral lands
af northern France would be likely to
be asked. All Germany's lost colonies
she expects to be returned. Her posses
sions IN the Pacific. however, are not a
subject of great concern and the Berlin
government is understood to be ready
% relinqush the claim On Kiauchau.
The security OF Turkey in possession of ,
probably would be in
sisted upon by the central powers, as
we'll as the restoration of Albania.
The establishment of independent king
IONS in Lithuania and Poland would be
me of the factors in the German pro-
losal. although that part Of Poland pos.
'cssed by Germany at the outhreah ..
he war would not be included.
What adjustment would be made 20
over the Trcutno region between Ais
ria and Italy, or any provisions aloct!nE
Egypt, the Slez canal, MesopotanlI4 or
he GateNa!S of control to the Indian
'mpire are not made clear in German
quarters here. The Balkan situation is
egarded as so delicate it would have to
&c unsangled in the peace conference.
ENTENTE DIPLOMATS VIEWS
Diplomats of the entente allies here re.
ard the peace offer as having the do.hle
purpose of placns on the allies the re
Ionsh,ility for continuing the war aud
I inpressInC on the German peop,. ina.
hey are fighting defensive con!iiCs
Galnst enemies who refuse quarter
'omng Immediately after the cu,mna.
ion Of the triumphant Roumanian cam
align, the peace offer. entente diplomats
ay Is intended also to impress the Ger
nan people that they need have 80 lack
I coniiccnc" III their government Ia con-
inuc The va
Based on Information from their home
ONcrrileNts, the entente dipiornat.s be-
eve Germans terms are III general about
g follows:
Ecstora'in" o. Belgium. bat VIII condi-
ions which would practically leave il
ndcr GERMAN control and proba1iY give
N"r thc port OF Antwerp To- Cicrmauy
RESTORATION OF the occupied PARTS ,r
ortherr France but with economic
ontrol which would guarantee t. Ger
lany supplies Of iron and othcr raw
Materials drawn Crom there
Domination of Mcsopotamia Toy Ger
larN aud Austria, to give them q path
G. tn" Persian fult ard break tng-
std's eatcWay to India ana Egypt
/" award to bulgaria, all OF Serbia As
ir south as Nish, Mich woulu take
rom SERBIA as much territory as she
aimed in the Balkan wars.
They expect Germany viii! demand
he return of her African colonies, q, at
Il. 70 ch