The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-28
GERMANY WILL MAKE KNOWN TERMS
ON FIRST DAY Of THE CONFERENCE
POINT MADE CLEAR BY
THE GERMAN EMBASSY
Washington Believes Negotla-
,. tions Are Resulting In
Some Good. ...

WASHINGTON. Dec. -. - In spite
Of the wide gulf between the lnSlS
tence Of the central powers for ar
Immediate peace conference anu the
forecast Of unanimous REFUSAL oH
the entente allies 10 enter such con
terence without knowing Germany :
terms in advance. the. American GOV
ernment believes that the negotiations
in progress are resulting in good. 1t
was said with authority tonight that
until the door To peace actually Is
closed by one side or the other. PreSt
dent Wilson will continue TO hope that
any discussion OF the subject will tend
% hasten the end OF the war.
Count Won BernStorff, the German
ambassador. returning Unexpectedly
tonight from New York. authorized
he Associated Press 10 make the fol
lowing statement:
II regard the note Of my govern,
ment as constituting an acceptance OF
everything suggested by President
Wilson in his note TO the belliserent
nations OF Europe"
1t was made clear at the embassy
that Germany stands ready 10 make
known her terms on the first day OF
any conference that may be held. and
officials expressed themselves as being
greatly surprised at the view prevail
ing in some quarters here that the
Berlin government has failed 10 meet
the presidents suggestions by not set.
ting down in the reply the terms upon
which it is willing 70 make peace.
Thu German diplomats say President
Wilson had no intention OF 'lrawtng a
public declaration concerning terms
from the central powers. On the con
trary. they think the presidents SuS-
gestion that an early occasion be
sought To call out from all the ma.
tionS now ut war such an arowal OF
their respective views as to the terms
upon which the war might be con
cuded." has been fully NET by Ger
many in seeking an Immediate con
ference with her enemies.
German PoIicj Outlined.
The German policy upon which The
reply to President Wilson * based
was outlined a. follows:
Germany feels lnat the conference
suggested by you first should be conf
posed OF delegates from the belIlser-
ent countries whose duty IL would be
10 settle terrir orial terms. Once these
terms are agreed upon. representa-
tives OF the nautTal$ should be called
in 10 participate in consideration OF
rhe questions or guarantees for the
future. in which neutralS arc as Vital
lv concerned as belilgtreniS. These
guarantees. / II thr German view.
aeceSsarily would have to do with the
freedom Of the seas, limited disarma-
. ment OF on international court OF ar
Oitration.
Germany is said to consider that
neutral nation: c;tl have no interest
OF their own in terms such as those
relating to territory.
While there were no official adrices
lpon the subject. the view still per
'Sisteut in German quarters tonsht
that the note I'll the CenIra. Powers
misht be followed br soma highly con-
fidential oral or written crmminlca'
ton 10 President Wilson, ir WHICH at
least UrCaI tentative terms might oe
stated In this connection OFFICIALS
nuIeG with interest Berlin press deS-
patches saying that Ambassador Ger
srd, WHO as a result OF this recent
visif 20 the United States is thor.
oughly familiar with the views OF
President Wilson. had taken lunch
with Alfred Zimu;erluann. the German
foreign minister. and probably DIS
cuSsed the peace situation with hlm.
Bernstorff Unexpected.
Count Ton BernStorf,S arrival IN
Washington was entirely unexpected.
He had not planned 10 return until TO-
morrow but because Of the SITUATION
deemed it advisable to be al the EN-
bassy Immediately.
Tonight the ambassador had no spe-
ciic instructions TO call upon Secre'
tary Lansing but it is not Improbable
that he will visit the State Depart
ment within the next few days 10 seek
information for his government anal
furnish tho administration with any
he himself may have in hi: possession;
Just what, the United States could