New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-12

German Government. The principle
unon which submarine warfare is TO be
conducted WAS settled once for all IN
Germanv's pledges TO the United states
MS stated in the Sussex note:
There may be disputes IN the future,
hut they will be disputes arising from
technical Misunderstanding, such as
tho "de6nition" of a transport OF the
question OF arming a merchantmen for
defence or offence. In other words,
most emphatically are deprecated the
stories OF threats of renewal OF sub
marine frightiulness in which Ameri-
can lives and property would receive no
consideration.
Peace Door Closed
THE ENTENTE VIEW.-The door
70 peace is definitely closed for the
present Nobody expects that Ger
many, in her present state OF mind,
will even consider the terms laid
down in the note Of the Allies. Fur
Their interference on the part OF the
United States, il there IL suspicion
that il is to reinforce the German
wish for peace or for the special pur-
nose of cultivating friendly German
American relations. will be resented.
A German-mRde peace that does not
conform to the specific terms Of the
Allies will be rejected. The German
threat OF ruthless war as the alter
native OF peace is well remembered
and new outbreak OF submarine
frightfulness is expected
The short broadside from the gov.
ernments Of the Entente. respectful
as IL was 70 the government OF the
United States. but full of rspier-
like thrusts Mt the President, who fol-
lowed the first German plea for i'm
mediate peace by a note of his own
timed so that the neutral world be-
Ieved he intended TO help the Ter
mans. struck the officials OF the Amer
lean State Department and the oft-
Gals of the Teutonic embassies Ike
dash Of ice water.
On the side Of this government the
feeling appeared to be one of grief
AZ the dashing OF the final hone. On
the side Of the Teutons the feeling
was OF anger How dared the Allied
governments offer to militarily tri-
umphant Germany such insulting
terms?
What viii Next Step BE?
The one question now debated in dip
lomatic and state circles is the fresi-
dents next step. Despite the direc.
statement the other day from the coun-
selIor Of the State Department that
"the President contemplated no furtner
peace note" il is the almost unanimous
opinion here that Mr.. Wilson fully IN
tends TO make some new move calcu-
lated, in his opinion, to bring the bel
ligerents to the point Of negotiations
lust what form the next move Will
take is not decided upon. II is certain
that this government will direct its am
bassadors abroad to present to the
Teutons the note Of the Entente and to
the Entente the short German note.
II is doubtful il in any public way
the President will 60 further. he pro-
ceedinrs are now at the point where re-
newaI of note writing. with publication
everywhere, will do more harm than
GOOD. The Presidents friends believe
that peace can be brought nearer reah-
zation now by secret means only. There
will be confidential conversations be-
tween the American ambassadors and
the foreign ministers in Berlin, London
and Paris. There may be more direct
action. such as the visit OF personal
Of the President-per-
haps Colonel House.
The German note in reply to the
communication stated no
terms. 1t will not be difficult to lay
that before the Entente. The terms
given in to-night's note from the En-
tente governments are so Objectionable
TO Germany that there can be no COM
ment or suggestion from the Amer-
can government.
German Terms May Be Here
II still is believed in Washington
that not only does the President in
tend to make new move in the peace
situation, but that he has confden-
tial information Of what the concrete