Evening star., 1916-12-13
Believed U. S. Will Intimate
Sincere Wish for Peace :,
Discussion. !
EXTREME DELICACY !
MARKS THE SITUATION
Impression Grows Mr.. Wilson Will
Safeguard Usefulness as Peace
maker in Struggle.

President Wilson's course OF action In
connection with Germanys peace pro-
posals remained undecided today. while
he awaited the Off -iai proffer which
the central powers have asked tho
United States to transmit 20 their ene-
mics.
The impression grew that while the
Presidents first consideration was to
safeguard his usefulness as peace
maker by omitting any comment which
might possibly be coupled nth a re-
lection by the entente powers. there
was disposition to find some way.
however delicate and informal. to init
mate the sincere wish of the United
States that some basis for discussion at
least might be reached. Many officials
felt that an indication of the temper
Of the entente governments should be
available before the influence or the
United States was thrown into the bal
ance.
United States Medium of Reply.
The United States. by reason of its dual
responsibility of representing the inter-
ests of most of the central powers and
the entente governments in the capitals
Of their enemies. would. of course. be-
come the medium of communication
through which any reply of the eutents
governments to the central bsiIig-rents
would be made ...
GeTinany's note proposing peace nego-
t1ationS to enemy powers was expected
to reach here today in official textual
form from Charge Crew at Berlin for
transmission to each of the er,teu;e bel
liRerents to whom ii is addressed
After studying i. President Wilson will
decide whether II shall be forwarded
without comment or accompan MED by soma
| expression by she United States gov-
i ernment.
/ Publicity Prevented.
Extreme delicacy Of the situation. It II
pointed out. would prevent the slightest
publicity being sfren to ans possible ac-
tiofi " this government other than per-
functory transmission or the noto
through the American ainbs ss,ldor IN
each of the countries Addressed
1t is regarded here as almost certain,
however, that the President will take
some steps to ascertain definitely the
entente allies atti:uI toward the peaoo
movement.
Terms Purposely Admitted.
The German embassy had TO further
advices on the terms of the central gov
ernments, but it was freely admitted
that terms had purposeIy been omitted
from the chancellor's speech and the
note. because the sole purpose vas to
propose conference on terms and
carefully avoid advancing any which
might be made the basis of a refusal
The Germanic diplomats in this coun-
try, rejecting the views of their gov
ernments. believe the ansr er Of the en-
tente allies viii be an inquiry as 10 ihe
basis on which Germany u opposes
peace. ard with tnat much as a fuunda-s
tion. they see the warning nations
Well on the way to a confere ce from
which they are sanSuine peace noald
result.
The probability Of the eu'e te allies
themselves ma king sone announcement
of the terms on which tn would ma ke
peace is regarded here wing tee
mendouS possibilities for eject upon
the German peoples themselves.
Cancels Eagag geIlents.
The President Cancelled all his OUT
side engagements today. including one
to preside over the annual meeting of
the American Red Cross. and remained
in the White House. where h- con-
ferred with Col. T.. NJ. House h:~ friend
md adviser. who mad. one "Trip to Eu-
rope to sound out peace sentiment sew
eral months ago. Col, House may go
again if the President makes "a move
to accompany Germanys proposals
with suggestions OF any charac'er
l; was reiterated that until the Off,
cial documents had heeri received for
transmi.tal TO the entente be!ligerents
no decision could be reached as 10 what
the United States will do turther than
to transmit them
The London press comment on tho
peace offer is linown to be in accord
with confidential advices coming To this
government before Chancellor Won
Bethmann- -HollweE's speech and the
note were published. How far this
comment represents the views of the
new British government can only be