The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-05
PRESIDENT TO TAKE
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tive in the Presidents peace propa-
ganda since Its inception. took the
center of the stage in the peace sit
uation here today. He held two lengthy
conferences with the President, and
between times went over the situation
for more than an hour with Secretary
Lansing. He preserved his usual ST.
lence. 1t was known. however. that
he reviewed the advance notes on the
German peace terms and advised the
President as to future negotiations,
Administration Senators made an
other effort to force an endorsement of
the Presidents peace move today. but
were forced TO again withdraw 1t In
the face OF determined Republican OPP
position and some very tart debate.
The fight will be continued.
While neither the State Department
nor the white House would discuss
the German peace terms tonight. some
very definite Ideas OF their provisions
were obtainahle in diplomatic circles.
At the German embassy the same op-
timism which has characterized the
entire peace move was evident. and
Ambassador Won Bernstorfr declared
that he was" confident the Presid emit
would secure results in his peace cam
paiEn.
Ready to Give Assurances.
1t can be stated on high authority
close to the German embassy, that
Germany is now prepared to give the
entente powers those Assurances for
the future" which have been made the
prime requisite of peace terms in all
entente utterances on the subject. The
German embassy believes these assur-
ances will prove satisfactory. Whether
or not they deal with possible inter
national disarmament could not be de-
termined tonight. The other peace
terms, It was stated. follow lines AL
ready outlined by the International
News Service. They provide for the
restoration of Belgium and the with
drawal Of German troops from North
ern France; for the establishment of
individual seats in Roland and Lth-
uania: for the division of tho Balkan
nations along lines which will pre-
serve the integrity OF the Balkan races
and end the Balkan troubles; for the
division OF the German colonies, some
to be retained. and some to go to the
entente allies. and for the considera-
ton OF all other territorial questions
and all questions of indemnity by a
Joint peace conferences.
Ready to Deal with Entente.
| With these terms definitely out
lined. the President feels that he can
safely go to the entente powers with
request that they put their demands
in similar forms. He would then seek
by indirect negotiations to reconcile
the differences between the two sets
OF terms.
The Senate debate on the peace
terms today brought forth another at.
tack on the PreSident'n nota Sroc, Cav
ator Lodge. Of Massachusetts. who
warned the Senate that to approve the
peace plan would be q leap In the
dark" He urged the Senate not to
act without complete official Informs
ton OF the purpose behind the note.
He was particularly bitter on the
Presidents proposal for the forma-
ton OF an International league to
maintain peace.
When we abandon our traditional
policy Of separation from European
affairs" he said. I'VE are taking a very
great step and one which should not
be taken without very thorough
knowledge of the distance to which
we may be invited to 60"
Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, Of NIL
nois. the Democratic whip. defended
the resolution. He insisted that the
measure did not propose . blanket en-
dorsement of the Presidents note. but
merely would place the Senate ON rec
ord as favoring the initiation OF peace
negotiations at this time. He said
that all Of Senator Lodges objections
to the resolution were beside the mark,
because the resolution would not oom-
NIT the Senate e any of>ths details
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