Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-21
WILL SEND PEACE
NOTES THEN WAIT
HINT FROM ALLIES
President Wilson Decides Not
to Risk His Standing BY
Making Advance Com
ment on Subject.
HEARING SEEMS ASSURED
Belief Prevails In Washington
That Entente Will Hear leu
tonic Terms Before Turn
ing Them Down.
HEARING SEEMS ASSURED

Washington. d. G., Dec. 1s.-The
opinion is growing in Washington that
regardless of any action by President
Wilson, the entente Will not fatty re-
ject the German peace proposal, but
will at least Indicate ii is willing to
talk peace on certain terms.
Furthermore, cables from Berlin
saying Germany is prepared to offer
liberal terms, suggest the idea that the
central powers are really desirous of
a peace parley.
The Germany embassy has given it
out informally that Germany will not
reject a proposition from the entente
for the limiting of ornaments. From
this, it is inferred. Germany realizes
she must be prepared to back up her
pledges by stronger guarantee than
words.
Meets Laws Demands.
n is a most important factor in
the situation. 1t has TO be considered
in connection with the demand or
Bonar Law for guarantees for the flu
ture.
While there is wide division of opin-
ion here as to whether anything will
come of the German peace proposal.
he belief is growing that the peace
leaven is working in all the warning
countries. One authority said today:
W I I inv u 1'A'r
proposition it may be set down that
his marks the actual beginning of
peace negotiations. I believe Europe
has entered the oad to peace, though
it is doubtless a good many months
off"
Concession Important.
The authorized statement at the
German embassy that consideration of
at least partial disarmament would be
one of the things taken up at Il peace
conference attracted the widest atten-
ton among government officials and
diplomats. 1t was accounted doubly
interesting because Germany had re-
peatedly refused such suggestions, even
TO the point, it was said, Of threatening
to withdraw from The Hague confer
ence if the subject, waioh had the sup
port of the United States, England,
France and Russia, We're pressed.
To Make No Comment.
The White House this morning was
without further informatton on the
tude is hat the United States should
send the notes without comment, but
should hold itself in readiness to say
or do anything which seems feasible
in the light of developments. One au-
thority summed up the case today by
saying:
w don't want to say anything that
will bring us a slap in the face. We
are simply going to wait until We learn
whether we will get slapped if we urge
a peace conference or express a wish
for a peace parley in any way"
Bernstorff Secs Lansing.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador conferred with Secretary
Lansing today. seeking information of
the attitude of the United States to-
ward the peace proposals of the cen
trail powers to discuss the general sub
ject of peace from this governments
viewpoint and to give any information
Mr.. Lansing might desire on the atti-
tude of the German government. Am
bassador Bernstorff after a 10-minute
visit with Secretary Lansing. said:
" did not discuss peace terms in
any way. ] have not received any for
NAL terms and the American govern
ment knows officially that no formal
terms have been proposed. All Ger
many has suggested is that the bellig-
erents get together Il talk. If that
proposal is accepted definite terms
naturally will be discussed, but till then
it will not be proper to mention them.
My visit to the secretary was purely
for discussion
No Comment on Policy.
The ambassador indicated that the
actual place for the holding of a con-
ference and the question Of whether it
should be by direct negotiations or
through Intermediates were questions
entirely dependent on the willingness
of the entente allies to discuss the sit
uation at all. He Indicated also that
he had not discussed the American &C
ton in sending on the Teutonic notes
without comment, as that was purely
a matter for this country to decide for
itself.
Secretary Lansing said early this
morning The peace notes probably
would go forward before night. One
uniform American translation will be
sent to all the governments where the
United States represents the central
allies and the original texts will be
forwarded later, probably by mail.