Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-02

the note, Count Won Bernstorff, the
German ambassador, authorized the fol-
lowing statement:
president Wilson having suggested
the finding of a method of stating
terms, l do not think that this note
will be answered by my government
until after the entente allies have re-
piled to the presidents suggestion;
stating, if they so desire, the modus
they propose"
The German embassy was outwardly
not favorably impressed with the tenor
of the entente note. However, the declar-
alton that "a mere suggestion, without
a statement of terms that negotiations
should be opened is not an offer Of
peace" was taken to contain yelled
invitation to give terms.
The next steps by the American gov
eminent will not be determined until the
entente reply to President Wilson's note
is received. 1t is expected within few
days. While it is expected to follow
in a general way the tone of the note re-
ceived today, officials believe it will
make clear whether any good will be
accomplished by further efforts at pres
ent on the part of the president.
The entente reply was not read by
the president tonight. Through official
dispatches from abroad he knew of its
general tenor, but did not tell even his
closest advisers what he thought of 1t.
UP TO ENTENTE.
German embassy officials pointed out
that since the first peace offer was made
by the central powers and 1t was indi-
Gated that the entente demanded terms
as a preliminary to considering 1T, the
central powers have informed President
tn civ hnir
terms at a conference. The embassy
considers that it now is for the entente,
replying to the presidents note, to say
whether they want the terms which they
consider essential to an offer for peace
conveyed to them, and if so, in what
manner.
The official text of the note which
reached the state department late today
will be forwarded to the American dip
lomats in those countries where this gov
eminent represents the entente allies
just as soon as Secretary Lansing knows
that the official text is complete and ex-
act. There will be no necessity for the
delay that was experienced with the CEN
trail powers proposals, as the entente
text came in a single joint note, where
as the central powers sent out four sep
arate notes, which were differently
translated by each of the four American
ambassadors in those countries and had
to be co-ordinated here into one official
text in English.
NOTE GOES SOON.
It is thought probable that the note
may go forward tomorrow, as it is de-
sired to have as little delay as possible.
1t will require about forty-eight hours
to reach Berlin and Vienna and per-
haps a little longer to arrive at Sofia
and ConStantinOple, .
No American comment is expected to
be attached to the note. None was at
tached to the central powers proposal
when reforwarded from here to the
allies. President Wilson's note is
thought to give this country full OPP
portunity to express its views without
in any way attempting to confuse the
Teutonic notes and their replies Win
the presidents note.
President Wilson has been very care
full to disassociate his own note from
the German proposals, especially as the
coincidence in time between the two
was made the basis of hostile comment
in the allied countries. He is expected
to very scrupulously remain aloof from
the entente replies in order not to preju-
dice the independent position of this gov
eminent in the negotiations.
The United States represents Great
britain in all four central empires; ia
nan and Rumania in Austria and Ger
many; France and Italy in Austria and
Turkey; Serbia in Germany and Turkey,
and Belgium, Montenegro and Russia in
Turkey. Portugal alone of the entente
countries is represented in none OF the
belligerent countries by this government
NO PUBLICITY.
The official text will not be made
public by the state department, nor Will
any indication be given as to whether
it agrees with the press text. The state
department feels most earnestly that it
is the mere messenger of the various
belligerents whose interests it repre-
sents in the hostile countries and re-
CARDS the negotiations as sacredly con-
fidentiaL Any sort of publicity must,
therefore, be left to the governments
concerned
This feeling is increased through the
belief that the only direct interest that
this government has in the peace nego-
tiations is in the presidents note and
that the whole peace situation can best
be served by a policy of silence till such
time as the negotiations come to more
definite state. Too much publicity now,
it is felt, may only tend to embarrass
the delicate steps and force one side
or the other to bring them to an end.
1t is regarded as very probable that
the note will be answered by the CEN
trail powers, if only to contest some of
it's statements. German officials re-
garded as unfortunate for the peace
movement that the entente had discuss
ed the past at such length. They feel
If peace is to be had the future, more
than the past, will have to be consid-