Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-13
PEACE PROPOSAL
STRIKES CHAINS
FROM NEUTRALS
Wilson Now Free to Take
Definite Action Toward
Ending War.
NECESSARY CONDITIONS
PROVIDED BY GERMANY
Course That This Country Will
Pursue Not Yet De-
tcrmined.
DECISION MAY COME TODAY
Certain That Feelings of Allies VIII
BE Carefully Sounded BE-
fore Step Is Taken
NECESSARY CONDITIONS
PROVIDED BY GERMANY
DECISION MAY COME TODAY
Certain That Feelings OF Allies VIII
Bc Carefully Sounded BE-
fore Step Is Taken.
nv AssncIated pr.ss


WASH1NGTON December l.-Gcr
many's proposal for peace Is regarded
here az having broken tho chains which
for months have restrained the United
states as well as other ncutrais from
making offers OF mediation
Now tina, one So, Of bcIiigcrents has
signiiied its willingness 10 discuss
peace terms-a condition often reiter
ated as necessary TO any action bv
President Wi!sou-therc are indtca;ions
tina, when the United states. acting as
IN" intermediary. transmits the Ger
man proposal. II may accomrany its
action by som" steps, necessarily deli
cato. to throw the innueilc. Of ,h..
United States into the balance for "a,
least n consideration. however prclirni-
nary, OF the terms on which a las,
Ing peace might be brourh, ,o tho
world Some ranking officials of m.
American government believe a league
or nations. such President Wilson
has suggested. must be the outcome
ana II could not he perfected without
the participation OF the United States
COURSE DECIDED WHEN
NOTE IS DELIVERED
Whether the United States Viii
transmit the German proposal without
any comment whatever, or accoutnanv
II with some formal or informal ex-
f'ression. will not be finally decided
until the note delivered TO American
Charge Grew. in Berlin. reaches Pres
ident wilson's hands. probably to-
morrow.
There were indications tonight ,ha,
PRESIDENT Wilson might tind some way
10 express the solemn and earnest wish
oi the United states for "A careful con-
sideration OF the suggestion OF Deacc
even before the entente governments
nave made known their attitude toward
the German proposal. This IL was
pointed out. necessarily would he done
In such delicate and ultracontidential
way that II never would be publiclv
known should the allies decline the
offer. This course was said 10 bc ,bso-
iutely necessary. so as to leave the
United States free and unemharrassed
TO act when AN acceptable peace offer
comes.
Regardless or whether President
Wilson decides 10 ACCOMPANY the Ger
man proposal with any word, IL was
said tonight he unqucstionably would
take steps TO learn the attitude of the
entente allies toward the peace move.
and possibly might again send To Eu-
rope his personal friend and adviser
Colonel z. NJ. House.
None OF the official dispatches had
arrived tonight. The governments
FIRST Information was conveyed I'm the
Associated Press dispa tches from Eer-
lin. President Wilson was said to be
int
ment. Secretary Lansing maintained a
similar attitude. The Cabinet dis
cussed the development n, its regular
Tuesday meeting. but the situation was
described by members as so obviously
delicate that no announcement could
be made.
ABSENCE OF TERMS
PROVES DISAPPOINTMENT
The absence of any specific terms
for peace In the note. or in the Ger
man Chancellors speech was. i'm a
measure. disappointment to those
who expected some concrete express
sion or basis on which negotiations
might begin. The German embassy
however. is in possession of advices
winch outline In general way what
Germany cM,ccts. and the diplomats
VI 'hS 'h'tillc powers. through their
means Of being supplied with in rorma-
ton. believe they have Il general idea
Of what terms the central powers arc
willing TO advance as the basis for
discussion Recent dispatches to the
German embassy indicate n belief that
the general terms might he. i'm sub
stance, as follows:
restoration of the status quo OK
listing before the war. This includes
the evacuation OF Belgium and the re-
StOration Of the occupied portions OF
Northern France. with the exception
OF Alsacc and Lorraine. No author
ized expression was obtainable from
the embassy as to whether conditions.
would he attached to the restoration of
Belgium and French territory, hut !
was understood that the German idea
was to make provision for the future
neutrality of Belgium. and probably
propose dcfoitifcation, particularly Of
the city OF Antwerp. It was also un-
Continued on Second ragc.)