Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-22

fof spselno terms would he playina At
fcctiy into 0eflnah pfanr. aiucr Ger
many then would have opportunity g
reiterhle cft-repeated protestationa that
TIRE Entente Allies are Responsible Tor
pfpionGtnE the war.
Sech nat rundown would tend %
weaken what sympathy there NOW u
IN the United States for Tho Entente
cause
These Allied diplomats. however did not
hcaitste 20 admit "chagrin" over the Pres
dents suggestion that specification of war
ohicetlvcs n necessary. They eald Allied
speakers have been specifyinE their ohiec-
tives Tor two years and n half, and that
they ought 20 be apparent 10 All students
Of the war
Secretary OF state Ianslpg's two state
monta ot yesterday IN Interpretation Of
President Wilson's peace note, were for-
warded today 10 American diplomats
abroad
The evident purpose IN thus trNnsmi,tIns
the statements was that there mlgm he no
misunderstanding or misintCrprctetlcn OF
the toSt abroad.
The diplomats will be free 70 inform
their foreign offices OF these ofilclal texts.
apd it h feit that the second statement will
serve 10 correct any miscOnstruotions which
might be placed upon the first.
Moreover, dispatch of tho two notes win
probably obviate the necessity for a supple
mental note which Lansing said he would
send u his first 'vorgo-of-war' remarks
were misinterpreted.
The fact that the texts are forwarded
TO the diplomats will enable them 10 pre-
sent 20 tho European courts ~ tho official
attitude ~ this Government the idea that
tho United States regards trRnsgreEalons on
It's rights as increasingly grave but as thus
far causing no consideration OF change
IN the Neutrality policy
President Wilson may occupy n tempo
rary role aa mediator IN the European war.
There was well defined report In dlpo-
matte circles hero today that Germany
shortly will furniah him with o statement
OF the torms ON which she is ready 10 make
peace Hut she will insist thiH report
says. that ho obtain from tho Entente a
almilar stRtement--whlch must bo apeo-
io--beroro no can communicate the Ger
man position TO her enemies or make them
public,
This was considered almost certain TO
bo the frHt result OF the Wilson peace note
90 Europe. Count Won Bcrnstorff. the Ger
man Ambassador. declined TO discuss tho
report for publication. IL was admitted
IN German circlen, however, that u was n
strong possibility. IL also was pointed out
that. II Germany takes any such action, the
Entente Powers viii bo placed az n very
decided strategic disadvantage II they fail
TO do the annte. And with two widely dlt-
forinK sets OF peace terms before him. Presl-
dent Wilson can be expected 10 make n
serious efrort TO try TO fnd II there cannot
DO discovered n common ground OF under
standing between them,
II already is certain that Germany Is pre-
pairing to takO the widest advantage OF the
offer of President Wilson Confidential ad-
Vices reaching this city this afternoon say
that the German Chancellor ls to confer
with Ambassador Gerard. now due back
at his post at once. He win furnish him
with all available Information regarding
Gcrmnny's intentions, II Is said These ad-
vices fintly state that the object OF the con-
ference In TO be ''tn discuss mediation and
prospects OF peace" Oficnts who learned
OF this proposed conference today aaid II
simply emphasized tho earn0stneas with
which Germany Is laboring for the end OF
the war.
Recovering slowly from tho dzzy whlri
OF yesterdays hSstory-maCing Developments
Government officials and foreign diplomats
hors today turned TO tho Foreign Offices OF
tho belligorent nations for the next peace
move.
As outlined In carly reports, strong ex-
caption was Mt first taken 20 President
wilson's overtures In both the EnEilah and
Canadian press This outspoken exception
seemingly today has been toned down. the
move now being called merely "inoppor-
tune"