The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
Wilson's Peace Note r eceivcd
in Germany with Sympa-
thy" Says German Secretary
KAISER ANXIOUS FOR
ANSWER TO TERMS
Unless Entente Replies to Ger
man Peace Offer Within Few
Days. Negotiations Will Take
Other Courses

The German governments attitude
toward President Wilson's note TO the
belligerents urging an exchange Of
peace terms was outlined at Berlin
yesterday by Baron Won dem Busche
Haddenhausen, Under Secretary OF
Foreign Affairs. in an interview with
staff member OF the Overseas News
Agency Owing to the semi officia
character of that agency. whose out
givings are mostly inspired by Will
helmstrasse. the interview may be re.
Garded as a resume of what will! be
the German governments reply to tine
American note
Baron Won dem Busche recently
succeeded Alfred Zimmerman. nov
foreign secretary, as under secretary
for foreign affairs. He was some year.
ago counsellor to the German EN-.
hassy in Washington. Up to Ruma.
MAS entrance into the war he was
German minister at Bucharest He
specialized for years in American af.
fairs as head of the American de.
partment OF the foreign office. Briei-
iy summarized. these are the chiei
in direct terms. partly implied.
Peace Rests on Belligercnts.
President wilson's note has been
received in Germany with SYM
pathy." The under secretary added:
This is certainly true of ofScia
circles" The conclusion of peace
Itself is a matter solely between the
beiligerents.
The United States will, however
play IAN important part In the gen
era! findings for the future to proven,
a recurrence Of the present war
All the belligerents are agreed, ia
words. as to the necessity Of protect
ting the small neutral States. In theft
ACTIONS they have been less unani-
NOUS.
Declining to discuss the case OF
Belgium. as belonging TO ''tho past.
Baron Won dem Busche pointed TO the
entente treatment OF Greece and Ru-
mania and their promise OF Constan-
tinople to Russia. The central powers
he said. must insist upon the pre-.
vention in the future of aggressive
coalitions OF great powers against one
or several others. with intentions OF
partition or conquest.
Germany. he said, must know
within a few days" the entente answer
20 the recent peace proposal.
He said II seemed possible that the
entente would avoid that answer, in
take different course
President. Note Discussed.
Berlin. via Sayville wireless Dec
24.--Baron Won dem Busche Hadder-
hansen. under secretary of foreign at
fairs and several years ago counsel.
lor OF the German embassy in Wash
ington, today discussed with a stan
member OF the Overseas News Agency
President Wilson's note to the being
erents.
Baron Won dem Busche at once
started the conversations:
Il am sure" he said. Il know what
you want to ask me. You want to
know our opinion about what l may
call President Wilson's peace note
In this case I think il would oe hes;
il you asked me about those points
which. according TO your impression
are the most important"
The interviewer made this sigges-
ton:
There are two main points in the
Presidents note, which, although in
terwoven with each other. yet make
a separate consideration The first
is about the immediate future. 1t Is
the contention that the conditions
upon which the belligerents conside.
a conclusion Of peace possible should
lem ia more far-reaching. The note
takes a broad view OF the pcssibili.
ties of the future in general and asks
BY what means such catastrophe
as the present can be avoided"
All Ncutrals Want Peace.
Baron Won Bueche replied: "As ia
the, problem which you mentioned last
that of general arrangements for
the FUTURE dare say that the United
States will play an important part in
it. The United States has been al
ways among the enthusiastic and
foremost advocates of the idea OF
arbitration.
"As to the conclusion OF peace itself
this mus; be done by the belligerents
Il think understand President
Wilson correctly IL say that he does
not offer mediation to this end, and
that only shows the interest which the
United States as we'll As all other
peace restored.
Tho President says that in this di.
rection 1t would be of material ad-
vantage II the conditions on which
the belligerents, consider 1t possible
- make peace could be communicate
"a.
10 Protect Neutral States.
With regard to those conditions.
may point out one remarkable fact:
All the belligerents have insisted that
one Of their most important aims Il
the protection OF small neutral States
II DO not want to reopen the discus
sions Of the past. / want to be as Inn
partial. IA neutral as II possible In
the present hour, when l state what
must be Germany's standpoint in thia
respect.
words. about this position OF neutrals
"As to their actions. they have Beer
less unanimous. .S 4
Il do not want to speak about Bel.