The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-06

Entente Powers Say No Peace
Conference is Possible on
Any Other Basis.
ANSWER TO GERMANY READY
France and England Fully Agreed
Upon Reply to ProposaIs-BerIin
Wants Quick Action.

London. Dec. 2S.-England and
France have fully agreed upon the
terms Of the reply to be made to the
peace proposals of the Teutonic Al
lies, the Associated Press learned at
the foreign office today. It is hoped
here that the answer may be dis
patched by the end Of this week, but
other nations of the Entente, although
agreed in principle, may require YER
bal alterations which would necessi-
tate further delay.
It is expected that once this reply
has been forwarded the response to
President Wilson's note will follow
very shortly.
1t is not believed in official circles
here that there exists any possibility
OF assembling a peace conference, as
proposed in the German reply to Pres
ident Wilson's note, unless Germany
is willing to make suggestions in ad-
vance regarding her ideas of the terms
Of peace.
German Agents to The Hague.
A dispatch from The Hague to the
Exchange Telegraph Company says
German agents have arrived at The
Hague to make preliminary arrange
ments for German delegates to the
peace conference suggested in the Ger
man reply to President Wilson's note
Russia's reply to the German peace
proposals was telegraphed Monday to
the French government, says a Reuter-
dispatch from Petrograd. 1t adds that
Russian foreign minister the note of
the Swiss government supporting
President Wilson's note.
The promptness of the German gov
ernment's reply to President Wilson's
note is characterized by the Evening
News as evidence of Germany's Gag
erness to bring the war to an end
The Standard says:
ut would be a mistake to neglect
the German peace maneuvers, but it
would be even more fatal to waste
time over them. We trust the gov
eminent will give President Wilson a
perfectly courteous, but also a def
mite reply and thene get on with the
war as energetically as possible"
Reported Injured.
Berlin, Dec. 27.-Germany and her
allies -Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and
Turkey-today replied to the note of
President Wilson in which he asked
that the belligerent nations state the
aims for which they were fighting.
The proposal is made by the Central
Powers that conference of the dele
gates of all the belligerents be held
Immediately in a neutral city The
task of preventing future wars, the Of
fetal statement says, can be begun
only after the end of the present
struggle.
The text Of the answer was trans
mitted to James W. Gerard, the Amer
lean ambassador. 1t says:
1.-THE high-minded suggestions made
by the President of the United States
of America, in order to create a basis
for the establishment of a lasting
peace have been received and consid-
cred by the imperial government in
the friendly spirit which was ex-
pressed il the Presidents commune
cation.
1.-THE President points out that
which he has at heart and leaves open
the choice of road.
ITO the imperial government an i'm
mediate exchange of views seems to
be the most appropriate road in order
to reach the desired result.
cit begs, therefore, in the sense of
the declaration made on December II,
which offered hand for peace nego-
tiations, to propose an immediate
meeting of the belligerent states at a
neutral place.
'The imperial government is also of
the opinion that the great work of
preventing further wars can be begun
only after the end of the present
struggle of the nations.
at will. when this moment shall
have come, be ready with pleasure to
collaborate entirely with the Unitsd
States in this exalted task"
The answer of the Central Powers
concludes with the usual diplomatic
terms of polfteness
Step Toward Peace.
Washington, Dec. 27.-Germany's
reply to President Wilson's note is
regarded here as having advanced the
peace movement another step despite
the fact that it disappoints in not