The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-16
ANY Further Effort by Ber-
lin Now Would Be Con-
strued as Weakness.
TEUTONS WILL DIE
RATHER THAN YIELD
Believes Wilson Will Be
Unable to Take Further
Action at Present.

FIess via odyNlile, jan lH.--bT. Ai1reu
Zimmerman, the German Foreign Min
ister, Informed the Associated Press to-
day that. in his opinion. the Entente re-
ply to President Wilson's peace note bars
the possibility for the present Of further
German steps to bring about peace. In
particular. he said. it precluded any di-
rect announcement by Germany Of her
peace conditions. in answer to the terms
ut forth in the latest Entente note.
Dr.. Zimmermann asserted. however.
hat the answer Of the Entente to the
President did not finally and completely
close the door to later efforts for peace
before one side or the other was COM
p,stely crushed.
The Foreign Minister in the course Of
. conversation with the Associated Press
correspondent last night declared. al
though with obvious reluctance, that 1t
was impossible for him to give more
definite statement Of the peace pro-
gramme Of the Central Powers than that
Indicated In the declarations Of DR.. Won
Bethmann-Hoilweg, the Chancellor, be-
cause the German terms were such that
their moderate details. after what he
Characterised as the aspiring programme
Of conquest and disme ensbernent outlined
by the Entente. would be interpreted by
the Eentente Powers as a sign of weak
ness and Of a desire for peace at any
0se
Reba6 70 Wilson.
Publication of the peace terms OF the
Central Powers therefore would defeat
every purpose, explained DIR. thinner
mann. The Foreign Minister expressed
doubt whether. after what he described
as the rebuff to President Wilson's peace
Efforts given in the reply of the Entente
the President could take any further ac-
ton for the present. adding that the En-
tente answer excluded for the presen,
any possibility Of peace.
Expressing a profound conviction that
the programme OF the Entente Powers
never could be carried into effect. DR.
zimmerman intimated that a failure OF
The Entente's offensive this year. which
he expected, might again make 1t posi-
Ole TO approach the subject Of peace or
geasonable terms and with some pros.
pect OF success.
The Entente Powers gave out fol
themselves a big programme" said DR.
zimmerman in answer TO query as tt
his opinion on the note to President vii
son. What more is there for Germany
10 say regarding it,"
Now that the Allies have to a certain
extent outlined their plans" said tn,
correspondent, do YOU think there |!
any possibility Of Germany declaring IL
some form or other its programme for
peace settlement?''
Can do Nothing More.
NO" replied the Minister after an in
stants reflection. "I think we can d
nothing more. We cannot afford to Civ
me impression that We are chasing afte
peace at all costs. After the Entent
Allies have put out this highly ambition
programme an announcement of the firr
and moderate German terms Of peac
would by contrast probably be inter
preted by our adversaries as an indica
uon OF weakness and would be used b
them TO encourage their people to figf
on. Our people would not understan
any further effort by us for the intro
duction Of peace after the Entente's dec
Iaration. We have to consider publ
opinion here"
Dr. zimmerman said he could obv
ously realize the advantages from or
PN'"N VI view III ueClhTlnB ItTIndHy
Terms and letting the world see by cor
trast with those to which the Entent
Powers have committed themselves IL
real state OF affairs, but seemed to |
convinced that such advantages were M
sufficient 10 affect the attitude of II
Entente Powers or to outweigh the effe'
on opinion in enemy countries of the al
honncement OF the terms regarding Be
gum and the others in this war.
To the question whether he saw II
possibility Of Germany IHaking such
declaration OF her intentions should
turiher inquiry be made from the neutr
SIDE for example by. President Wilso
me Minister replied critically: "B
VIII he make such an inquiry, after Il
Entente reply. which in it's nature
snail We say. insulting"
DO YOU think that after an interv
mere will be any possibility OF an on
ot mediation for peace being accepted
Doth sides?" the Minister was asked.
Better Chance Later.
YES" he replied. '"rhe desire Z
peace OF all the peoples--peoples. mi
you, ] say, not Governments--is
strong that after the Entente has h
another try with new offensve--af'
It has seen the fruitlessness of all
endeayors to crush the military strene
OF the Central Powers-there may be
better possibility Of negotiating a sat
factory and reasonable peace.
of course, IL the Entente Pow
persist in trying to execute their p
grsmme the war must be fought out
the bitter end. There IL not a Germ
who would not rather die than see
accomplishment Of the announced int
uon Of the Entente Powers with resp