The Detroit times., 1917-02-10
NEUTRALS
PULL WIRES
FOR PEACE
Powerful Move to Keep
II. S. Out of War
Proceeding
MADRID MEETING
TO PRESS GERMANY
BernstOrff To Use Influ.
ence; u. S. To Nego-
tate With Austria
BY ROBERT J. BENDER

tSidH Correspondent United Prcss.
WASHINGTON. Feb. l0.-while
the United States hopes almost
against hope-and prepares for any
evcntuallty--a tremendous subsur.
face move to keep this country at
peace Is now proceeding.
with what IL believed TO be the
secretly tacit. but wholly informal
sanction OF this government. the
move today had developed along
three lines. namely:
First. efforts of involy-
ing now almost all neutrals Ell.
cepling the United States---to have
!. conference called ut Madrid. with
view TO combining the war 10 Its
present limits. and II possible. 10 get
secret or public assurances from
Germany that altho she does not
rescind her barred zone" decree
she viii not harm American nor
other neutral rights.
Second. an effort by this govern.
mcnt 20 avoid n break with Austria
by having Austria modify her in.
dorsement OF Germany's undersea
campaign. and
Third. and last. the expected ef.
forts OF German Ambassador Bern.
storff 10 preserve peace after
he reaches Berlin. provided. OF
course. the overt act has not been
committed by Germany by that
time. This. apparently. Is an in
dependent move on Bernstorff's
part. tho 1t In admitted II can scarce
ly fail 20 meet with this govern.
ments approvalD
Rumors OF this sub-surface peace
maintenance" plan have been preva.
lent for several days but not until
TODAY did the full extent OF the
move become known.
The two big trump cards are the
secret moves OF neutral diplomats
here 10 stall OF war between the
United States and Germany and the
German ENJOYS known and agrees
sive desire to preserve the peace
for which he has long struggled
Administration oficials them
selves do not admit that the moves
are going on under tho surface. but
nc United Press learned definitely
that the nertlap rogram Is ambi-
tons and that the state department
has been al least unofticially advised
OF the neutrals intentions
Tie sswrzs nIfnrsrsr- herr. ftrs- patsl
Rnter. h a leading spirit in the con.
ference plan. lie and the other
nentralr have conferred among
themselves about keeping all the
now neutral countries out OF the
struggle aSa u Ia -nnderstnod- Secre-
tary OF State Lansing sat In with
Them A-nnc session
In view OF the American hope for
neutral support. the proposed con
ference idea II not unwelcome here,
The fact that none OF the neutrals
II breaking with Germany. altho
Bolivia and Brazil have threatened
10. and the fact that some of the
neutrals might be forced into war
on the side OF Germany. makes the
plan acceptable. tho IL ls under
stood that the United States itself
is not asking the present action.
One reason why the concerted
action OF neutrals Is not unwelcome
To this government Is that one OF
their avowed purposes Is to carry
on the fight upheld by the United
States for two years. 10 prevent the
utter disintegration OF international
law
Another reason Is that the pro
posed conference is planned TO set
forth and protect the rights OF small
countries-another contention OF
the United States thruout the war.