Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-01-05
President Already Knows What
Germany Proposes and the
Allies Will Submit an
Early Reply.
FACTS ARE KEPT SECRET
Administration to Divulge Moth
ing Until Proposals Are AS
sembled-Notes to Play
Small Part.

Washington. ID. c.. Dec. 30.-SeMet
nd subsurface peace moves are now
he order of the day. with Washington
, great center of activity. Rumors and
gossip of all sorts are current. Through
soundings at foreign capitals the pres
dent is getting important confidential
information.
He has been made aware. through
ambassador Gerard. of the general ma
lure of Germany's terms Though not
officially confirmed. the report persists
that Germany will give up the d e Of
buffer states between her and Russia
y She can get back her w colonies.
The president is understood to have
information from Vienna that Charles
n the new emperor, raj peace
and is influenced to this in part mt least
ny the serious internal condition in Aus
ria. This may make the solution Of the
problem of Serbia easier.
To Know Terms Of All.
Apart from anything said in formal
notes, President Wilson expects to have
n his hands a general outline OF the
peace terms of all, the leading bellige-
'ents. This was asserted here in we'll
informed quarters i'm connection with
he fact that it. has been given out
ooth at the state department and the
White House that the lid is on concern
ng news of peace negotiations save for
such announcements as it is seen fit
20 make from time to time.
The sudden policy of secrecy is avs
ng much wonderment. The explana-
ion which is unofficially given is that
he administration is already being
acquainted with many facts from the
Inherent capitals AS to peace demands
md conditions relating to peace and in
getting these in confidence and that 1t
IS the desire OF the president to make
Germany and other nations feel the
American government will be a safe
channel through which to pursue con-
%Iidential exchanges and sonndings.
To Make No Comment.
In many quarters the official atti-
.ude was construed as indicating that
secret exchanges were expected TO fol-
low if they did not precetie the formal
w to the entente nations to the
notes of President Wilson and the CEN
raj powers Because of the highly
confidential nature of any such nego-
.iatiOns it is pointed out the inter
mediarY would be obliged to refrain
from admitting even that they were in
progress.
So far as the entente governments
are concerned. it is understood that
little. if any, confidential information
has reached here to shed more light
IN their attitude than has been given
)upliClS IN luc Speeches III t1eu pre-
lliers and the of their press.
Consequently, there is no disposition
mere to doubt that the allies unani-
nously viii! refuse to enter any sort
IF peace conference until Germany has
Indicated clearly on what conditions
.l1e will stop fighting.
On the Temtonic side, hile the reply
% President Wilson's note is regarded
)y the German embassy rs complying
With President Wilson'S suggestion in
Offering :, method of procedure, Ger
nan is said to be willing TO consider
other suggestions regarding methods
rom any quarters. including her me-
MES.
Turkeys reply to President Wilson'S
oeace note was received. today at the
he same as Germany's and Austiia's.