The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-01-05
REJECTS GERMAN
PEACE PROPOSAL
Wilson Forwards Reply Of II
Entente Allies.
PRESIDENT AWAITS ANSWER

Has Not Decided Upon Further Move
While Awaiting Ententes Response
to His Note Proposing Discussion
Of Peace Terms by Belligerents.
Approval of Course of President Be.
fore the Senate.
Washington, Jan. 3.-The entente
reply rejecting the peace proposal CT
the central powers has been cabled
by the American state department for
presentation to Germany and the otn.
er belligerent governments.
1t was authoritatively stated That
President Wilson had not decided
upon any further move on the sub
ject while waiting for the entente's
answer to his note proposing a dis
cussion of terms by the belligerents
No official comment was forthcoming
on press reports from Paris indicat
ing tnat the reply TO the president in
effect would be the same as that CIV
ell ~ lue central powers.
Discussion of the advisability of
legislative action approving the
course Of the president in sending his
note occupied the senate Action was
delayed by unanimous consent be-
cause Republican senators insisted
that the question was too important
to be disposed of hastily and should
be considered by the foreign rela
tions committee.
Particular interest attached to
statements during the debate by Sen.
ator Stone, chairman of the foreign
relations committee who had an
hours conference with President
Wilson. In this connection, admins
tration officials took pains to make
clear that the president did not seek
action by congress, though. of course,
he would not like to see a proposal to
! indorse his policy defeated.
Tho discussion began when Senator
lIitchcock's resolution to approve the
note, introduced just before the holi-
day recess. automatically came be-
| fore the senate for consideration.
Democratic leaders, including Sena-
tor Stone, urged that the resolution
should be passed without any delay
or prolonged debate, in order that the
presidents position might be given
approval by a coordinate branch OF
the government which has authority
in International affairs.
Senator Lodge. ranking Republican
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee; Senator Gallinger, the minor.
ity leader; Senator Borah ard other
| Republican senators vigorously in
sisted that Senator Hitchcock con.
tent to let the matter go to the for.
eign relations committee for careful
consideration. They did not oppose
the purpose Of the measure, but ex.
pressed the view that the action was
fraught with such international i'm
portance that 1t should not be acted
upon without very careful considera-
ton OF all phases of the war situa-
ton, and not until a senate commit
tee had an opportunity to study the
exchanges of belligerent and neutral
governments which have forwarded
the original Teutonic note to the en-.
tente allies suggesting discussion OF
peace
There were strong intimations that
the Republicans will insist on thor.
ough debate if Senator Hitchcock
persists in his demand for vots
without reference TO committee
Such n discussion II was pointed out
might lead to another general debate
On the European war situation, such
as characterized the controversy al
the last session of congress over the
right of American citizens to travel
on armed ships Of belligerents.