Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
No PEACE OFFER
FROM GERMANY,
SAYS PRESIDENT
Imperial Chancellor Has Not Rel
quested Gerard to Postpone
Vacation.

Washington, March 23-Presidenj
wilson has expressed mitigation at re
ports printed by New York newspapers
that Ambassador Gerard has advised
the State department that the German
chancellor requested him to postpone
his contemplated vacation so he would
be prepared to handle peace proposal
which Germany Is now cons idering.
The administration made an excep1
ton to its general policy to the extent
of Issuing this formal denial of thd
statement:
President Wilson. through secre.
tary Tumulty. to-day authorized q de-
NAL or stories appearing in papers, I'd
the effect that the purpose OF Ambas-
sador Gerard's remaining In Berlin
was to await Germany's proposals forU
peace. There is no justification forI
that inference being DRAWN
The State department, which already
had informally denied the reports. to-
day also issued this formal statement
Any statement that the Gerna q
government had intinated that it de-
sired this government to &c, rs me-
diator in peace negotiations or had
in any way suggested formally or In
formally. that this government should
take the matter up with other powers,|
Is absolutely without foundation, and
the State department has no informa
ton that Germany Is preparing to|
make a definite movo in tho dIrection|
OF peace"
SEEKS SOURCE OF REPORT.
The administration Is attempting I'd
identify the source Of the original red
port. That the reports were inspired BY
sources that might benefit by their pub
lication is not doubted.
a suggestion was made in soms
quarters that their appearance in papers
Of well-known anti-preparedness tend
encies might have boon intended to affect
the administrations naval and military
program
The fact that Count Won Bernstorfs,
the German ambassador. went to The
state department this morning and con-
ferred with Acting Secretary Polk i'm.
mediately gave rise to reports that the
peace stories were the subject OF the
conference.
The only mention made of the peace
jooular manner. The German ambas-
might explain the reasons that caused
the recent hold-ups in expectations
of certain classes Of products from Ger.
many.
He advised Mr.. Polk that the German
government had no desire to block ex.
ports to this country In order to throw
the blame on Great Britain for the de-
structon Of American Industries but that
Germany needs virtually all thu products
which are now being raised In the
Fatherland.
The ambassador told Mr.. Polk that
many OF the reports circulated concern.
ing economic conditions in Germany are
false, and In some cases even ludcrous
Business affairs are in excellent condi-
ton, considering the remarkable stua-
ton that Germany has confronted for
more than a year he said
There are excellent reasons for believ.
ing that many of the difficulties which
American importers heretofore have ex.
perenced in getting goods out Of Ger
many have been caused as much by the
ineffcency Of the office Of the trade adj
visers OF the state department as to any
other single cause
Formerly the office was in charge Of one
| Of Mr.. Bryan's appointees named Elem.
| ing. who had no experience in interna.
tonal affairs until the former secretary
placed him in the Office of foreign trade
adviser.