The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1916-12-29
Germany PROPOSES
| Meeting OF POWERS
PERMANENT PEACE PROPOSITION
TO COME AFTERWARD,
HOWEVER.

The German Government, in its re-
ply to President Wilson's recent notes
to the European belligerents, proposes
an immediate conference of all the war
ring nations TO discuss peace terms.
The task OF preventing future wars,
the official statement says, can be be-
gun cnly after the end of the present
struggle This point will probably be
the greatest barrier to a peace agree
ment.
Washington, Dec. 26.-Germany's re-
L ply TO President Wilson's note is re-
garded here as having advanced the
peace movement another step despite
the fact that it disappoints in not meet
| ing his suggestion for an avowal OF
terms.
The reception OF Gerlnany's reply re-
ceived among the entente allies, whose
statesmen have publicly declared
against such a program, now becomes
the point upon which a further move
is hinged. The German note is prob
ably the prelude of series of care
fully considered delicate moves in the
great game OF world diplomacy, all
possibly leading to an approach for a
real discussion OF peace terms on
grounds which all the belligerents may
feel can place them to no disadvant-
age.
| Neutral diplomatic quarters, too, re-
garded the note as a step toward
peace. and farther leaned to the view
that Germany might follow 1t with a
confidential communication OF some
Isort outlining her terms.
| Note Not Full Reply.
The view OF the entente allied en-
bassies, frankly expressed was that the
note was not an answer to President
Wilson's communication but rather a
document for circulation in Germany
and in neutral countries with the OBJ
ject Of moulding opinion to place the
responsibility for continuing the war
on the entente.
Among the Geruanic diplomats the
lonly view expressed was one OF sur
prise that the reply had preceded re-
ceipt OF the ententes response to Ger
many's original peace proposal of De-
cember ~.
1t was everywhere agreed that the
principal stricldng point was the 'ac,S
of definite statement Of terms such
as President Wilson asked and such
would require II they were not to put
their heads in nose with the rope
end in the hands OF the Germans" 1t
is not beyond the realm Of diplomacy,
| however to find a way to bridge that
difficulty, and Germany's failure is not
regarded as block TO the negotiations
Ialthough II makes them exceedingly
difficult.
Germany's declaration that she re
cards the work of securing the world
against future wars as a work to be
taken up after the present conflict is
ended was regarded with a diversity
of opinion.
| Not Out of Harmony.
! officials who turned back and COM
pared the statement with the phrases
of President Wilson'S note did not find
the two out OF harmony nor in dis
Iagreement with the Presidents pub
lie utterances on a world league to
preserve peace: yet there was an in
definable opinion abroad in official
quarters that the ending of the war
land the safeguarding of the future
were problems so inseparable that one
depended on the other. Those taking this
view referred to Lloyd Georges dec
laration that the Allies would consid l.
er it possible to enter conference only
liz Germany would first openly offer
Preparation, restitution and guaran-
tees"
The German reply is regarded as not
only failing to do this, but it's sug-
gestion that the work be left for the
future. 1t is feared, may raise diff
cult obstacle for the allied statesmen
| to surmount with their own people to
whom an absolutely durable peace has
been held out as one of the main justi-
fications of the war. 1t also has been
sheafed by the allied statesmen with
the terms which would end the con-