Connecticut western news., 1917-01-04
HOPE FOR PEACE
 STILL IN WILSON
Secret Mediation Believed to
 Be New Plan.
EXPECT REFUSAL BY ALLIES

DIpaon atIc WaSnIn9ton oeeS an End to
 First Attempt at Open Negotiations
 to End Great Conflict, but Believes ,s,President Will Continue His Efforts
 Through Confidential Channels.
 Hope for peace in Europe still rests solely on President Wilson's mediation.
 Diplomatic Washington is convinced Ehat direct negotiations between the two groups of battling European na- lions is. impossible and that only the .most skillful handling of the situation Tby the United States can bring the slaughter to an end.
 Diplomatic circles are prepared to see the peace negotiations disappear Into the dark and mysterious depths of secret diplomacy. It was predicted, however that these secret negotiations properly conducted will bear fruit ulti- tmately, and one diplomat predicted sfhat the peace terms would come to Ehe surface in two months.
 indirect Way Only Hope.
 4 With the direct peace negotiations slnitiated by Germany now practically n closed incident and attention cen- fered on the attitude to be assumed by sehe entente toward the presidents peace plans high official of one of the Beiligerent embassies here outlined the speace situation as follows:
 "Germany's proposal for peace and uhe hoztile reply of the entente allies lave made it clear by their tone that there is no hope for direct negotiations far peace! The exchanges show that skte belligerents have no common ground upon which they can get to- -eether for the mutual compromises which must mark the final peace nego- Istigns. Neither side is willing to make the preliminary motions which must precede the formal discussion of sNeace terms.
 SAfRdiation by strong neutral pow ex s the only other means of securing peace. The European neutrals by their close proximity to the conflict and their patent interests in it's outcome me plainly barred from effectual work &n tue direction of mediation.
 SDnly the United States, the great est neutral of all, is in a position to snake itself effectively heard above the
 
 grace proposals already under way will be the basis of the final negotia- Gons for peace.
 Negotiations In Secret.
 ~These negotiations will be carried .On in secret. Following the expected wepfy of the entente allies to the presi- dents peace note it is to be expected that opportunities will develop for the Rreiiminary confidential communication of peace terms by both sides to the president direct.
 STheSe negotiations will necessarily she tenuous and slow, but the peace movement can be expected to take defi- mite diplomatic form in about two months. Through the actual and skill full diplomatic conduct the United States can bring the peace terms into the open about that time"
 Confronted with this situation the administration has settled down to a period of diplomatic "watchful wait ing" The ''lid7 is screwed down tight sfy at both the White House and the gfate department. Secretary of State Lansing said emphatically that he MoIId not discuss the peace situation.
 Representatives of the entente allies declined to talk peace until the formal answer of their governments to the presidents note has been received The Teutonic diplomats maintained the optimism which has characterized their peace discussion since the president Initiated his propaganda.
 At the German embassy it was stated that the German government would undoubtedly make a statement either through diplomatic channels or other wise to meet the charges in the en- tente's reply to the German peace pro- posals. In this statement, which may take the form of a speech to the reichs- tag by Chancellor Zimmerman, will he Germany's last word in the contro- versy over who is responsible for start ing the war.