The Washington herald., 1917-01-13
President Calls Together Cab
met 10 Consider Next
Move.
PEACE STILL POSSIBLE
Washington Believes Way Yet
Clear for White House
Mediation.
COL. HOUSE MAY GO ABROAD
His Presence at Conference Yesterday
May Presage Special Mission
to European Rulers.

President Wilson yesterday took steps
to resume. with redoubled vigor, his et-
forts to end the war In Europe. Con-
WINGED that the reply Of the entente
powers to his original peace note by no
means precludes further peace proposals
on his part, he called together his ad-
visers to consider what form the next
move shall take.
At the regular meeting Of the Cabinet
yesterday the President told the secrs-
taries that he considered the door to
peace negotiations still open. He took
up With the Cabinet, and with Col E. NJ.
House. his closest confidential adviser,
the situation developed through the en-
tente peace reply, and the German note
to neutralS In response to the entente
refusal to consider the direct German
peace proposals..
1t can be stated on authority that the
administration feels that while direct ne
sotistions between the two beIligerent
groups almost have come to an irnpasse
the way Is still clear for mediatory ne
gotiations through the President
Next Move in Doubt.
What the Presidents next move will
~ - Ao- yet OctIl utlcTTllne0. Dut II
10 certain that 1t will be surrounded by
the closest secrecy. The President feels
that the open peace discussions through
diplomatic notes has reached the limit
and that further moves, to be successful,
must be done through confidential COM
munications
As a result. the peace negotiations may
now be expected to disappear into the
murky and devious depths of secret
4N-f@ NJ
state Lansing and the President himself
WIN probably be the only persons In
formed as to the course of the future
peace moves.
The fact that Col House was called
into conferences yesterday was looked
upon IN Washington as a possible indica-
ton that the Presidents confidential ad-
wiser might undertake a secret peace mis-
sion to Europe. Col. House Travelled ex-
tensively between the capitals Of the Eu-
ropean belliserents for the President,
sounding out peace sentiment, before the
President initiated his peace plans. It
10 certain that the President feels that
no oos 10 better qualified to undercake
tns deiscats task of conducting ''unot
nctaf.- negotiations with either OF the
groups Of belligerents. II the President
de-idss that the confidential nature OF
the peace discussions from now on
regular diplomatic channels. there Is no
doubt that Col. House will be called
upon
May Wait for Germany.
The Presidents next peace move may
be delayed until Germany has had an
opportunity either directly or indirectly
to act upon the entente statement Of
peace terms sent to the President.
Whether this statement with the re-
nainder Of yesterdays note would be
forwarded to Berlin through diplomatic
channels, the State Department was un-
able to say. But It is expected that Ger
many will take cognizance OF the note.
probably when Chancellor von Bethmann-
Holwegg addresses the Reichstag, to for
rally announce the failure OF the direct
reace proposal Of Germany. The chan
ceuor's speech, diplomatic Washington
believes will once more go into the con-
troyersy over VIII is responsible for the
war.
The Presidents next peace effort may
take the form OF a move to bring into
the open a detailed peace term statement
Of Germany. With the entente peace terms
drastic as they may be, set forth clearly
IN the entente reply to the President,
similar statement from Germany, the ad-
ministration believes, would do much to
clarity the situation. With both sets of
widely they may differ, the President
would be in a position to conduct negotia-
tions in the direction Of reconciling the
differences.
Diplomats Gloomy.
The optimism in administration circles
last night was not reflected among the
diplomatic representatives of the belliger-
ent nations. They were inclined to be-
lievs that for the present, at least, the
peace discussions had been brought to
standstilL The drastic nature of the
terms mentioned by the entente allies,
and the tenor Of the German note, charg
ing the entente with the responsibility for
continuing the war, were accepted as in
surmountable obstacles to continued ne
gotiations at this time
At the German Embassy, while no for
NAL comment on the situation was forth
coming. II was stated that Germany
would flight for ten years If she had to
live on rye bread alone" rather than
accept the proposals laid down in the
entente note to the President. German
circles, however, take the view that the
entire situation is now up to the Presi-
dent and that he must make the next