The sun., 1916-12-28

touch with President Wilson's peace plans
for some time, and II is an open secret
that Switzerland strongly favored the
idea Of the President adding ar appen
dix TO his reply to the German note
virtually endorsing II before transmitting
Il 10 the Entente Powers.
or course. the endorsement was only
70 extend to the general desire Tor
pesce as Expressed In the German docu-
mcnt and In nc sense connected with
such. terms OF peace as Germany may
hope to attain.
Oficisls here explain hat the direct
aftermath 10 the Presidents notes has
not been ut all as he expected. He has
seen developments so shape themselves
that the United states now IN spite or
i,relf stands In the position or urging
the Entente to accept Germany's CEN
trail idea discuss possible terms OF
peace. The only difference between the
German and american proposals. accord
irg TO Entente diplomats, Is In method.
Germany wants u peace conference. the
President wants terms outlined In a
general way In advance.
Presidest's R~eslisatioU.
90 nearly identical In purpose are
these n notes regarded that reports
from abroad say II will be unnecessary
for the Entente to reply to the German
proposal II they reply TO the note OF the
United states, or vice versa.
A reply to the German note will be a
eoply to the American note. Both Ger
many and the United States seek the
same aims, 1t In said. and both will get
the same answer N replies In duplicate
are made In the Entente capitals.
The President is now said to realize
fully that to all impartial observers the
real import of his note TO the Entente Is
virtually the same AS the German peace
OFFER. Tuis has been strikingly empha-
sized by the German reply, which heart
ily endorses the Presidents basic idca
but differs as to method.
Germany's arguments In support oil
the peace conference idea too are I'M
ing concern here, because they appear to
have the backing OF sound logic which
the Presidents suggestions, being vague
in form. necessarily have not.
The Berlin . oreisn ONCE and Ambas-
esdor Gerard are understood to be al
. ready engaged In an exchange OF views
concerning the respective merits OF the
German or American method. Ger
many emphasizes the fact that 1t In en-
t.rely inpracticable Cor fourteen nations
60 settle intricate questions OF terms In
open public discussion. Therefore Ger
. many cannot believe that the President
can persist In his request that Germany
outline terms In q reply to the American
note.
Mr.. Gerard Is necessarily placed in a
position of distinct disadvantage In urg-
Ing support for the Presidents method
because the obvious arguments OF Berlin
ere difficult to answer.
The trump card which Berlin Is In a
position TO play In this connection Is the
obvious fact that Germany could make
far more liberal terms to the Entente
secretly than would be possible other
wise. 1t In pointed out, for example.
that II the Imperial Government were to
outline extremely liberal terms there
would certainly be a wave OF hostile
feeling throughout the German empire.
The prestige OF Chancellor Won Beth
maRn.Hollweg would suffer severely. II
ID. pointed out. and the followers OF ex-
IRENE military measures. including the
hackers of Won Tirp1z and his ruthless
submarine warfare, would gain greatly.
even though nothing definite resulted
from the German liberal concessions.
Eject OF Wilson's Plan.
Berlin does not believe President Will
Oon would insist upon the pursuance OF
such a policy, even II II could be brought
about by his in~sistence. 1t would, II Is
explained, be playing directly into the
hands Of the unfriendly or anti-Ameri-
can elements In Germany and embar-
raising the supporters OF n pro-Ameri-
can policy.
Onicials admit that there is food for
mature consideration In the German
viewpoint. on the American side there
10 no argument, II In pointed out. except
tho vague statement that the President
"desires to know the aims" of the bel
1igerents. Germany. as explained In her
note. regards the very vagueness OF the
Presidents ideas as giving good reason
for her coming forward with practical
suggestions. The next move rests with
President Wilson.
No one in authority will say tonight
whether the German note will bring
forth a reply. i, II expected that II will
however. The difficulty In framing q
reply that will not seriously affect the
present and future position Of this Gov
eminent in the eyes Of the world is one
Of the subjects which will give the Presi'
dent considerable trouble.
Indications are that the President will
let this p%erplexing problem remain dor
mant for the present at least. He IL un'
derstood to hope that replies from thu
Entente may at the eleventh houl
change the situation.
The President also has the all impor
tant question OF squaring accounts will
Germany for violations Of the U-boa
pledge before him. there may hav'
been some connection between this ant
Mr.. Lansing's visit. Secretary Lansing
declined to comment on his conference,
to-day except to say that he had takei
up with the President matters pertaining
to State Department business.