Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-05
WILSON TO MAKE
NEW PEACE EFFORT
IF FIRST ONE FAILS
Forthcoming Entente Reply
Expected to Leave
Door Open.
BASIS FOR NEGOTIATIONS
TO BE GERMAN TERMS
Diplomatic Washington Declares
President Has Taken Situa-
ton in His Own Hands.
CONFERS WITH COLONEL HOUSE
Policy OF Absolute Secrecy Continues
/ to Curtain Every Diplo-
+ to tri,
BASIS FOR NEGOTIATIONS
TO BE GERMAN TERMS
CoNrERs WITH COLONEL HOUSE
Policy Of Absolute Secrecy Continues
to Curtain Every Diplo-
matte Step.

WASHINt;TON. January r. Active
and aggressive mediation by President
Wilson in an effort to bring the Euro
pean war to 4 close. was decided upon
In administration conferences here to-
day. After President Wilson. Colonel
L.. NJ House. his closest confidential
adviser. and Secretary of state lansing
had reviewed the peace situation in
All its paases. the following develop
mcnts became apparent:
Tho President determined to send a
further peace communication. either
in formal diplomatic style or as a con-
hdcutial message through American
ambassadors to the European powers.
unless negotiations are unexpectedly
interrupted.
Advices from tho entente capitals
led the administration to believe that
the forthcoming entente reply to the
Presidents peace note would leave the
door open for further negotiations. and
would pave the way for the new COM
municaton.
\ definite and clear statement OF the
tho war. already in tho Presidents
hands. will hcconc tho basis for the
continued negotiations.
| Diplomatic Washington tonight de-
clarcd that the President has taken
| the worlds peace situation in his own
| hands. and that he Is in position to
proceed to mediate the differences be-
tween the expressed peace terms OF the
| two groups Of warning nations. 1t was
accepted that the final peace terms OF
/ the entente powers are now the only
| missing requisite needed to give Pres
/; idcnt Wilson all OF the power and au-
!, thority OF an acceuted mcdiator With
| these In his hands, .sthe President can
| proceed at once with negotiations to
accommodate the differences In the two
| peacc-tcrm statements.
ENTENTE REPLY NOT
TO HALF NEGOTIATIONS
On ad ices from abroad diplomatic
circles here tonight based the con-
clusion that the outlook WAS favorable
| for tinal Submission of terms by the
entente. 1t was stated authoritativcly
that the entente. peace reply, now pre-
pared, would not by its tone or form
halt further negotiations. and that the
| entente allies could be expected to re-
| spond farorably to request for def
Mite confidential statement OF peace
| terms.
/ Colonel l.. NJ. House. who has been
active in the Presidents peace propo-
| ganda since its inception. took the cen
| ter OF the stage in the peace situation
here to-day. He held two lengthy con-
| ferences with the President. and be-
| tween times went over the situation
| for more than hour with Sccre-
tary Lansing. He preserved his usual
silence. 1t was known. however, that
he reviewed the advance notes on the
German peace terms. and advised the
asII Iar rs fn f,,t, ttat
While neither the State Department
nor the White House would discuss
the German peace terms tonight. some
very definite ideas of their provisions
were obta Unable in diplomatic circles
! At the German embassy the same op-
timism which has characterized the
entire peace move was evident. and
Ambassador Won Bernstorf declared
that he was confident the President
would secure results in his peace cam
paign.
GERMANY WILL GIVE
ASSURANCES FOR FUTURE
i Ii can be stated 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 utteranccS 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. il was stated. prSride for the
restoration Of Belgium and the with
drawal of Gerhan troops from North
4 crn France; for the establishment OF
individual seats In Poland and Lithu-
ana: for the division of the Balkan
nations along lines which will preserve
the integrity of the Balkan races, and
end the Balkan troubles: for the di-
vision Of the German colonies, some
10 be retained. and some TO so to the
eutcntc allies. and for the conside ra-
tion OF all other territorial questions
and all questions Of indemnity by q
Joint peace conference.
With these terms definitely outlined
/ the President .eels that he can safely
90 to the entente powers with re-
quest that they put their demands IN
similar forms He would then seek
by indirect negotiation 10 reconcile the
differences between the two sets OF
| terms
BELIEVES TT WOULD CONSTITUTE
GUARANTEES FOR FUTURE
President Wilson'S chief hope in tho
ultimate success OF the negotiations is
known TO lie in this suggestion that
a means be found for maintaining
peace in the future. II AN agreement
ON that poin; can be reported the
President is said 10 feel IT would con-z
stitute the guarantees for the future;
demanded by the allies.
| II was generally Indicated to-day
d .a y : Il