The Washington herald., 1917-01-01
WILSON AWAITS
entente REPLY
To PEACE NOTE
Eagerly Hoped that Answer
viii Not Preclude Informal
Negotiations.
GREECE SUPPORTSACTION
President Ignores Allies Treatment Of
Kaiseris Ill-Starred
Attempt.

With the entente powers note reject,ns
Germany's peace proposals. forwarded by
the United States to the capitals OF the
central allies. the dawn Of 1917 found the
iirs' .c for peace in Europe a closed
incident.
Peace advocates in Washington settled
down to await the reply Of the entente
to President Wilson's suggestion that
they make closer their peace terms. Only
the fact that peace negotiations were stnI
In progress. despite the tenuous nature
OF he peace correspondence. gave hope
for the ultimate settlement of the dis
pute Between the warning nations.
Greece Approves Course.
Further commendation for the Presi-
dents course came last night with word
from Athens that King Constantine OF
Greece, had cabled TO the President his
Endorsement OF the peace proposal. Of
the United States.
King COnstantine's communication was
IN line with the communications from
other reutrals. indorsins the Presidents
nlan and expressed the same sentiments.
IL was not an official note setting forth
the views Of Greece on the PEACE plan,
but IL promised further communicate
making clear the detailed views Of King
Constantine's government The Greek
action was unlocked for by the admins
tration. owing to the disturbed condition
OF internal AFFAIRS I'm Greece.
While admitting thai the immediate out
look for peace Is black, diplomatic wash
ington generally took the position last
night that 1917 will see the end Of the
contest In Europe. The confidential ne
sotiations. looking toward the discussion
NJ Hara- .
are already under way. Germany, fol-
lowing her formal note suggesting an
immediate peace conference. has slready
submitted a more or less definite state
ment Of the aims she seeks to accom-
plish before the war ends.
Hope for Entente Terms.
The entente, peace advocates hore. raar
rake aStFnslar sIctisa. evSfi n thesr forth q
coming :eply 10 the Presidents note fol-
lows the lines laid down in the note re-
JectinC Germany's direct proposals. The
entente note is expected to arrive IN
Washington before the end OF the week.
and the administration hopes that like the
German reply, IL will leave the way open
for confidential peace negotiations through
this country.
The administration WAS careful TO make
Il clear that in transmitting the entente
reply TO the Teutonlc allies. Il is acting
State Department declined to make pub
lie the formal text Of the entente reply.
and said that II would officially take no
cognizance OF the nature OF the reply at
this time.
II was plain that the administration is
determined to disregard the entente reply
to Germany SO far as its own negotiations
are concerned. and 10 keep the two peace
movements entireIyse parate. Administrs-
ton officials said that this country's en-
tire activity toward peace centers IN the
Presidents rote. and the action OF other
neutrals in support Of his plans.
They emphasized the administration de-
confused with Gerrnany's direct peace
proposals.
No Comment on Action.
Neither the White House nor the State
Department would comment on the atti-
tude taken by the Spanish government in
its note declining to join with the Presi-
cent in his peace plans at this time. The
department scid that no CO nment would
be forthcoming. pending the receipt Of
the formal copy OF the note. 1t was tacit-
ly admitted. however. that the President.
in making his pes se move. had sought
to enlist the supp, RI Of the entire neu-
trail world, and that the neutral nations
had been specifically requested 10 Join
in his demand. The action Of Spain was
a disappointment. but the administration
has been assured that practically all the
other neutrsls will respond TO the Presi-
dents request for cooperation
The administration is an1iously await
ing word from Holland and the South
ar Central American nations as to their
ps zee position Latin-Amer1can dipio-
lo rats declared last night that practical
lyj Oint action by the pan-Amerfcsn ma
tons may be expected at any time