The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-29
Czcrnin's Terms Rejected by
France and Britain in
Clear Words.
MAY BE TEST BID
Central Powers Possibly
Paving Way for Real
Concessions.
NEUTRALS PROFESS HOPE
Dissenting Entente Parties
Unmistakablc Factors
i'm Situation.
PROFESS HOPE
special 0espofch 10 THr SrN.

Special Despotch 10 THr SrN
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-Entenie din.
iomats here. without even waiting to
near from their Governments, charac.
terized the Teutonic peace bid made to
the Bolshevk delegates by Count Ger.
min. the Austro- Hungarian Foreign Min.
lister, as unworthy of consideration.
There is some difference Of opinion m
to whether it is altogether a war move
in disguise or whether 1t should bs
taken TO reflect real desire and need Of
the Central Powers for peace, and the
neutral diplomats. in some instances.
strongly indorse the latter view. But
opinion has strongly crystallized quickly
In favor Of regarding the move is ir-
relevant to the main issue. which il DE-.
so1ibed as carrying the war to vic.
torious fash.
Great ETitains view came in officia;
FORM over the wires from London, and
was Incorporated in Premier Lloyd
georges letter to the Labor Congress.
Achievement OF the PURPOSES for
which the ALLIES are fighting are essen.
tlal to the future freedom and peace OF
mankind" he explained
FNeign Minister Iichon of France
lost no time in getting Frances de.
termination to reject the overtures be.
fore the world
f. de Cartier de Marchienne ;he Bel.
gian Minister here. said that no German
efforts of this kind could retard the
night to finish." and that the only
peace terms to be taken seriously will
be the terms which the Entente and the
United states will present to Germany
ION the point of the sword"
Concessions Possible.
1t IL understood fully in WASHINGTON
that there may be internal reasons in
Entente countries for making some con-
cesslohs TO certain powerful political
elements which are pressing for another
statement OF the Entente's war aims
Ihese considerations will be weighed and
acted upon in the discretion of the Cow
ernments of those countries
ne decision involved is regarded = of
great Importance because of tho nossi
plIlty that divergent statements might
aHofd the German plotters opportunity
10 weaken the ties that bind the Allies
together
Diplomats and officials of the S,ats
department called attention TO Prcsl.
ueilt Wilson'S address to Congress m
'c'cWoer for an answer as to how
'eihanSs no anneNatiOns, no indem.
lil'ieS catch phrase impressed the United
states Government
just because this crude formula Inn
"'neNatlons no contributions, no punt.
i've lndemn'ties) expressed the instinc.
tive judgment as 10 the right og niair
men eFerywhere.' the President said, "it
mas been made diligent Use Of bv tbs
masters or German intrigue to lead the
P."p'e OF RUSSIA astray. and the people
OF every other country their agents can
reach IN order that a premature peaca
,h'sht oe brought about before autocracy
mas been taught its final and CONVINCING
lesson and the people of the worId no
IN control of their own dcstinies"
Terms Not IndcrstooJ,
1he Impression which the German bid
apparently has made on men like Score.
tary Lansing and Counsellor Polk wa,
interesting When asked today what
one seemingly important paragraph OF
the terms meant. Mr., Lansing replied
tnat ne did not nave the slightest idea
Mr.. Polk likewise said he did not under.
stand its meaning. There were plain
indications in Entente circles thar tba
Ambassadors did not know what the So
called German terms meant and did Nh,
particularly care
The feeling among some OF the neutral
u'p'oiiiaS' however. is decidedly differ.
eht These neutral countries naturally
iohg Tor peace and have not tho interest
or the heliigerents In caring just how IL
is brought about. They therefore hone
mat by some !nexplicablc means some.
thing may come OF Count Czerniu,s hid
They admit frankly that 1t Is only \
hope.
The view of certain neutral Diplomats
IL mat the Central Powers are sincera
and genuinely anxious for peace and
that tho peoples OF these countries now
are Interested only in seeing the war
brought TO an end.
AOstrtanA Want Peace.
In support OF this contention II was
pointed out that the Austrian people
showed comparatively little eAcitcmept
[ A...N L - II.