The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-12
Offer Announced by German
Chancellor at Berlin.
Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria and
Germany All Agree.
LASTING PEACE IS DESIRED
Z. S. Diplomats to Convey Mes
sage to ''the Enemy"
Vatican and Neutral Nations
Also Are Notified.

Berlin, Dec. 12.-(via Sayville
wireless Proposals by the CEN
trail powers that peace negotla-
tions be entered into forthwith
were made in notes handed to
representatives of neutral coun-
tries which are representing Ger
many in belligerent nations to-
day.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg called the diplomatic
representatives of the United
States, Spain and Switzerland to
his office,o one after the other and
handed these notes to them.
The fuIi'text of the note will be read
in the reichstag today.
Tna chancellor asked the neutral
nations which represent Germany and
her allied powers at the capitals OF tne
nations with which she is at war to
bring these proposals to the attehtioh
of Germany's enemies
The propositions which Germany
advances in these negotiations are. ac-
cording to Germany's belief, appropri-
ate for the establishment of lasting
peace.
All -Four Act at Once.
The governments at Vienna, Con-
stantinopIe and Sofia transmitted iden-
teal notes
The text was also communicated to
the Vatican at Rome and to all other
neutral powers.
The following announcement was
given out today by the semi-official
Overseas News agency:
"The chancellor this morning re-
ceived one after another the represen-
tatives of the United States of Amer
tea and Spain and Switzerland, that is
of the states protecting German in
terests in hostile foreign countries. The
chancellor transmitted to them note
and asked them to bring it to the
knowledge of the hostile governments.
The note will be read today in the
reichstag by the chancellor
In the note the four allies Central
Powers) propose to enter forthwith
on peace negotiations. The proposl-
ton which they bring for such nego-
tiations are according to their firm
ment of a lasting peace.
THE governments at Vienna, Con-
stantinople and Sofia transmitted
identical notes and also communities
ton with the Holy See and all other
neutral powers"
How Offer Reaches Enemy.
BY handing the note to the repre-
sentatives of the United States, Spain
and Switzerland. Germany really
transmitted it directly to her enemy
nations. Under existing conditions
this is the only possible course of dip
lomatic interchange between the cen
trail powers and the entente allies.
The procedure in transmission OF
Germanys peace proposals will be
Identical in the cases of all the neu-
trail powers whose aid is invoked. The
diplomatic representatives of America
Spain and Switzerland will forward the
note handed them by Bethmann- Holl-
veg to their respective capitals. The
foreign offices. or state departments
of these neutral nations will then
transmit the text to the American
Spanish and Swiss ambassadors OF
ministers at the capitals of the entente
allies. These ambassadors will. in
turn, formally deliver the note to the
governments of the entente nations
The same procedure will be followed
in the case of formal replies to the
peace propositions. England, for in
stance. will probably give to the
American ambassador, the Spanish
ambassador and the Swiss minister
Identical notes detailing their response
to Germany's proposals. These will be
transmitted to the capitals of the
United States. Switzerland and Spair
and thru diplomatic channels formally
tContiuupd on PAGE Two !