The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-28
Will Refuse to Negotiate Until
Germany Has Indicated Will
ingness to Agree to Terms
FRENCH REPLY WILL
GO MUCH INTO DETAIL
In Meantime Preparation Will
Go on For Offensive on IRE
mendous Scale Next Spring
and Summer

London, Dec. 27.--Progress OF the
peace negotiations took this concrete
form today:
/. Russia has drafted her reply
to the German proposal of a peace
conference and has teiegraphed it to
the French government for its in
formation. Russia has not yet deliv-
cred her reply to the American Am-
bassador. but is waiting to hear from
her allies. Russian answer will be
d firm refusal.
2. France will make probably the
longest and most detailed answer to
Germany. This answer has been writ
ten after conference with England in
the French language. the language of
diplomacy. the language in which
Germany's proposal of peace con-
ference was originally handed to the
Am erican embassy in Berlin. France
will refer to the causes of the war
and Will state her unwillingness to
enter into peace negotiations until
Germany has indicated her willingness
to accept terms that will make peace
just and lasting.
British VIII be Brief.
3. The British reply to Germany
will be briefer than the French re-
ply. probably, but of the same gem
eral tenor. 1t will be a fat refusal
to enter into conference with Ger
many until Germany has shown her
hand
4. These several replies on behalf
of the principal entente belligerents
will probably be delivered to the
American ambassadors for transmits
sion to Washington and to the CEN
trail powers in the next few days. Bel
gium. Serbia, Montenegro and Ruma-
MIA will also probably make replies of
the same tenor.
5. The purport of all the replies
will be a refusal by the allies pointly
and severally OF Germany's proposal.
but the door will be left open for a
reply from Germany. There may and
undoubtedly will be further ex-
changes. But it is now certain that
these preliminaries to any actual con-
ference between direct representatives
of the belligerents will be prolonged.
Will Continue Preparations.
s. In the meantime all the belliger-
ents will continue undated prepara-
tons on the largest scale for a new
offensive in the spring. This offensive.
it is now expected, will be reopened
we'll drained, fairly high ground.
where movements of heavy guns Is
possible in the early spring as 1t was
in the Nerdun hill country last Febru-
airy. No heavy lighting is possible in
Flanders before late April or early
May, on account of the mud.
I. The reply to President Wilson's
peace note will not he taken up by
any of the allies until the answer has
been dispatched to the German pro-
posal. which preceded the Presidents
letter. But If Germany's answer Is
sent by Saturday of this week 1t Is
probably that the allies will agree upon
their answer to President Wilson next
week.
Allies Difficutt Part
s. The most difficult part of the al
lies reply to Germany is to make the
answer definitely responsive to the
proposal of the central powers and
at the same time to convey to neutral
countries an adequate idea of the
aims and purposes for which the en-
tente allies are contending.
Germany hold nearly 200,0 900 square
miles of European ground, taken from
the allies. The allies hold about $500
square miles of European territory
taken from the central powers Any
statement of terms now would be
upon the existing military and terri
torial situation upon which Germany
Is eager to negotiate. but upon which
basis the allies are unwilling to
negotiate as they have supreme con-
fidence in military victory for their
arms over Germany next spring and
summer.