Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-04
PEACE TERM SIGNS
STILL LACKING
No Indications Teutons Have
Made Them Known to
President Wilson.
GERMANY MAY ACT SOON

Absolutely nothing official was avail
able today in confirmation of repeated
intimations and even assertions from
German and Austrian sources that
President Wilson has received, or will
ers a statement of their peace terms as
a last resort to keep open the door to
possible early peace in Europe.
The rapid maneuvers of Germany in
her peace proposals give color to the in
timations that, regarding the answer of
the allies to her last proposals as set
Ting all prospect of negotiations unless
she submits her terms, she may have
concluded to act promptly so that the
President may be ready for another
move as soon as he receives the official
answer of the allies to his own plea for
peace.
Some members of Congress today ex-
pressed grave fear that there may be
truth in the reports that Germany has
secretly hurried along her terms. This
fear is based on the idea that if Ger
many has done this she seeks to have
the President depart from an open
policy of communicating with the whole
world and adopt method of presenting
her terms in a confidential way that
may. sooner or later. arouse enmities
and hostilities that are now latent in
both the allied and central countries.
Foreign Entanglements Feared.
1t is known that a strong section of
Congress is Withholding Endorsement
of President Wilson's peace note, not
on account of special objection to the
contents Of that particular note, but for
fno hot
tanglements the White House may get
into that will bring serious divisions
in this country as to the wisdom of
future action he may take. There con-
stantly rises before these men the long
established policy, put forth first by
Washington. that the affairs of Europe
were not to be bothered with by the
United States and that the safest pol
Icy of this nation is to hold decidedly
aloof from Europe's wars, politics and
customs
German diplomacy. it is pointed out
To-Day, would accomplish wonders for
distressed Germany now il it could
SHIFT official and public sentiment in
the United States to the German side
by a succession of maneuvers. ulti-
mately entangling the administration
mere SO that 1t would virtually become
an ally OF the central powers.
English writers foresee this, 1t was
also pointed out. in their pleas to the
English high officials to word their an
swer TO the Presidents note SO that the
good opinion of America may be re-
tanned. They fear Germany's methods
in the diplomatic field.
Say President Is Prepared to Act.
Persistent reports that the President
is prepared to make further moves
upon receiving the answer of the allies
will not down, and just how he will be
able to do this unless Germany has for.
warded further communications gives
concern all around
There arose today the renort that
President Wilson will again send Col
h N. House to Europe to get in touch
with the leading men of the different
nations Col House arrived in Wash
ihston last night and is the Presi-
dents guest at the White House Pon-
ular belief is that he always lands Al
the White House on the eve of impor-
,aht action by the President, and il is
se secaiied mat he was in Washington
some weeks ago at the time the Presi-
dent was supposed to have complefed
his peace note, which he held. await
ing favorable opportunity to dispatch
it abroad.
Well Informed official opinion did not
incline to accept the view that Col
Rouse Will once more become nres;
Dental envoy to the fighting nations
certainly not In the near future. The
redsohs given are numerous There
would be resentpent among the Ameri
can ambassadors abroad. These men are
In touch with conditions in the re =
spective countries they are accredited
to and are alive to the Importance OF
Keeping this country advised. There
would be resentment in the allied coun-
tries at his presence IL his visit was
construed as an effort to force them
into something they were not prepared
to do.
As favoring the possibilities of such
TRIP by Col. House in the near fu-
ture, 1T was claimed that his methods
are so clean and impartial that no
country could make objections; that he
would be man of incalculabIe value
in gathering facts for the promotion
OF peace, and that the President could