The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-28

closed by one side or the other,
inject will tend to hasten peace.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, returning unexpectedly
tonight from New York, authorized
the Associated Press to make the fol-
lowing statement:
BERNSTORFF'S STATEMENT
81 regard the note of my govern
ment as constituting an acceptance
of everything suggested by President
Wilson in his note to the belligerent
nations of Europe"
1t was made clear at the embassy that
Germany stands ready to make known
her terms on the first day of any con-
ference that may be held and officials
expressed themselves as being greatly
surprised at the view prevailing in some
quarters here that the Berlin government
had failed to meet the Presidents sug-
gestions by not setting down in the re-
ply the terms upon which it is willing
to make peace.
GERMANY MEETS REQUEST
The German diplomats say President
Wilson has no intention of drawing a
public declaration concerning terms from
the central powerss On the contrary they
think the Presidents suggestion that an
early occasion be sought to call out from
all the nations now at war such an
avowal of their respective views as TO
the terms upon which the war might
be concluded" has been fully met by
Germany in seeking an immediate con-
ference with her enemies
The German policy upon which the
reply to President Wilson's communica-
ton is based, was outlined as follows:
GERMAN POLICY
Germany feels that the conference sug-
gested by it first should be composed of
delegates from the belligerent countries
whose duty 1t would be to settle terri
torial terms. Once these terms are agreed
upon, representatives of the neutrals
should be called in to participate in con-
sideraton OF the question OF guarantees
for the future, in which neutrals are
as vitality concerned as belligerents. These
guarantees, in the German view, neces-
sarily would have to do with the free
dom of the seas, limited disarmament
formation of a world league of nations
to enforce peace and the establishment
of an international court of arbitration
Germany is said to consider that neu-
trail nations can have no interest of their
own in terms such as those relating 10
territory.
ORAL MESSAGE EXPECTED
While there were no official advices
upon the subject, the view still persisted
in German quarters tonight that the note
of the central powers might be followed
by some highly confidential oral or writ
ten communication to President Wilson,
in which at least broad tentative terms
might be stated.
In this connection officials noted with
interest Berlin press dispatches saying
that Ambassador Gerard. who, as a re-
suit of his recent visit to the United
States, is thoroughly familiar with the
views of President Wilson, had taken
lunch with Alfred Zimmerman, the Ger.
man foreign minister and probably dis
cussed the peace situation with him
BERNSTORFF HURRIES BACK
Count Won Bernstorffs arrival in WASH
ington was entirely unexpected He had
not Planned to return until tomorrow,
but because of the situation deemed it
advisable to be at the embassy imme-
didtely. Tonight the ambassador had no
specific instructions to call upon Secre-
tary Lansing, but it is not Improbable
that he will visit the state department
within the next few days to seek in
formation for his government and fur
nish the administration with any he him
self may have in his possession.
Just what the United States could do
toward bridging the gulf in case the
allies hold to their opposition to a con-
ference is the subject of serious discus
sion among officials, but yet no con-
crete proposal has been advanced Ii
is said officially that it even has not vet
been decided whether this country will
send on to the entente the Teutonic re-
ply to the Presidents note, as embodyinx
new suggestion, or whether its mere
publication here would be considered SUI
ficient The official text of this reply
is awaited, and no further step is ex-
pected before it arrives The extreme
ueilcdcy OF the situation and the fear
of a mis-step on the part of each group
or belligerents convince officials that II
may be long time before any really
substantial result is obtained
EXPECTED ALLIED REPLY
That the allies will declare that there
must be military solution to the war.
both in their note to the President ana +
in their reply to the central powers, was
the growing belief here today, both on
the basis of statements at the allied
embassies and from cabled press COM
ment. A London dispatch today. follow
ing one from Petrograd yesterday, as
well as intimations from both Paris and
Rome, that the allies could not discuss
peace until they actually had the terri
tories they considered essential for fu-
ture protection, was taken to Indicate
that the allies want to wait for SUBJ
stantial military victory and a reversal
of the present military situation
Great Britains invitations to the pre-
miers of all the colonies to attend An
imperial war conference to discuss sspos-
scentinued IN Page seseap