The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-12-15
PROPOSALS FOR PEACE BREAKS
CHAINS WHICH HAVE KEPT
AMERICA AND OTHER NEU-
TRAILS FROM ACTING.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS MAY
BE OUTCOME OF MOVEMENT
Wilson May Find Way to Express
Solemn and Earnest Wish of This
Country for Careful considera-
ton of the Suggestions
for Farley. .a

Washington, Dec. IA. - Germany's
proposal for peace is regarded here as
having broken the chains which for
months have restrained the United
States as well as other neutrals, from
making offers of mediation.
Now that one set of belligerents has
signified its willingness to discuss
peace terms-a condition often reit-
Grated as necessary to any action by
President Wilson-there are indica-
tions that when the United States, act
ing as the intermediary, transmits the
German proposal it may accompany
its action by some steps, necessarily
delicate, to throw the influence of the
United States into the balance for at
least consideration, however prelim-
mary, CT the terms on which a lasting
peace might be brought to the world.
League of Nations May Be Result.
Some ranking officials of the Ameri-
can government believe league of
suggested, must be the outcome and
It could not be perfected without the
participation of the United States.
Whether the United States will trans
NIT the German proposal without any
comment whatever, or accompany 1t
with some formal or informal express
sion, will not be finally decided until
Grew in Berlin reaches President VIII
sons hands, probably.
To Express Americas Wish.
There were indications that Presi-
dent Wilson might find some way to
express the solemn and earnest wish
of the United States for careful con-
sideration of the suggestions of peace,
even before the Allied governments
have made known their attitude to-
ward the German proposal. This, it
was pointed out, would necessarily be
done in such @ delicate and ultra-con-
fidential way that it never would be
publicly known should the Allies de-
cline the offer. This course was said
to be absolutely necessary so as to
leave the United States free and un.
embarrassed to act when an accept
able peace offer comes.
Wilson Is Deeply Interested.
Regardless of whether President
Wilson decides to accompany the Ger
man proposal with any word, it was
said he unquestionably would take
steps to learn the attitude of the AL
lies toward the peace move and pos.
sibly might again send to Europe his
personal friend and adviser, Colonel
E. Nj. House.
None of the official dispatches have
arrived. The governments first infor-
nation was conveyed in the Associat-
ed Press dispatches from Berlin. Presi-
dent Wilson was said to be deeply in
terested but reserving comment"
Cabinet Discusses Move.
Secretary Lansing maintained SIM
liar attitude. The cabinet discussed
the development at it's regular Tues
day meeting but the situation was de-
scribed by members as so obviously
delicate that no announcement could
be made.
The absence of any specific terms
for peace ir the note or in the Ger
man chancellor's speech was in a
measure a disappointment to those
who expected some concrete express
sion of a basis on which negotiations
might begin. The German embassy,
however, is in possession of advices
which outline in a general way what
Germany expects and the diplomats
of the Allied powers, through their
means of being supplied with informa-
ton, believe they have a general idea
of what terms the Central Powers are
willing to advance as the basis for
discussion.
Recent dispatches to the German
embassy, covering a wide range of
subjects, indicate a belief that the