The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-20

w. ~ NUot WIG IloltN VI
the central powers proposing a dis
cussion Of poacc to the entente allies
will be sent forward by the American
government acting as intermediary
without any accompanying mediation
offer of its own. He has not determine
cd whether any action in behalf of
peace will be taken later by the United
states on its own account, but is
holding himself i'm readiness to Serve
in any way possible toward bringing
the warning nations together.
The course to be pursued was made
known tonight after the president had
conferred with Secretary Lansing and
after q prolonged cabinet meeting. 1t
was stated that the delay i'm forward
ing the notes to the entente capitals
was due to the fact that the messages
received from Germany, Austria
hungary and Turkey, identical in
substance, differed slightly in phrase
olosy as a result Of different trans
l%ations. They probably will be put
on the cables tomorrow.
Since the first note arrived. the one
from Germany, the president ana his
closest advisers have been absorbed
in study of the situation created. The
Austrian note followed and the one
from Turkey came late today, too
late to be translated for the cabirct
meeting. Those from Germany and
Austria Hungary have been gone 0rcr
carefully by the president and Secre-
tary Lansing to make certain Of their
meaning and so that they may he
sure to properly represent the intent
of the central powers.
The fact that the cabinet mect,rg
today lasted more than three hours
and was the most prolonged of the
year attracted profound attention in
official circles and led TO all sorts
Of speculation. 1t was explained au-
th~oritatively later. however, that the
meeting was devoted largely to con-
sideration of departmental matters
and had been prolonged because it
was the first time since the campaign
that all the members had been pes
ent.
In other quarters than the White
House il was learned that some word
indicating the official attitude of the
entente allies toward the peace p,o-
posal is being awaited with the deep
est interest 10y the American govern
ment. The president will not cc,I-
slider injecting the United States into
the situation until he is thoroughly
familiar with all its phases.
Secretary Lansing. explaining the
delay in Transmitting the ~communica-
tons of the central powers. pointed
out il a the German note waS trans
lated into English by Charge Grow at
Berlin and the one from Austria ny
Ambassador Penlicld at Vienna, while
the Turkish note came to the state
department i'm French. As the corr
munications were intended to he idcn-
teal the state department does not
desire TO transmit three different YER
sions II when all three are IN hand
tomorrow Il plan to avoid this viii &c
determined upon.
In England, France and Japan this
government represents all three TCu-
tonic countries and will have to de-
liver three separate notes. In Russia
and Scrvia the United States repre-
scnts both Austria and Germany and
will have to scnd only two separate
notes. only to Belgium. where Aus
tria is represented, and in Roumania.
where Germany is represented, will IT
be possible 10 send only one note
I" avoid duplication of cables by
sending several copies OF the same note
10 the same country and also to in
sure one official version for all three
notes entrusted to this government, l.:
is possible that Il careful translation
VIII be mad ut the department and
compared with the texts as arriving
here. E.Cn this involves Il certain
amount of Interpretation in tUHnsll-
ton and some officials think Il would
safer to direct the three American
ambassadors in Berlin. Vienna and
'OnStantinOplc to send ON the text
handed to them lay the respective TOY
cIgn offices for transmission ia their
original form to the countries named.
SWitIcrlaud'S action in handIut the
German note To Italy without C0IL-
mCut ~ announced thruu%h Ia" lt1l-
ian parliament lay l'orci.u Minister
Souniu" was u"tcd here With utter
Definite Indication "t ~" "ttItudo
or the entente allies j. c,p",tcl IA
the %SIccch Of David Il"yd- Coarse. the