Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-28
NO HOPE OF INDUCING
AMERICA TO SUBSCRIBE
Position Of This Government With
Regard to Peace Has Not
Changed in Any Respect.
RESERVATION OF GUARANTEES
Germany Requests These to Insure
Execution OF All Complicated Fac
tors - Czernin's Sincerity Causes
Apprehension in Washington.
[Ry Associated Press. ]

wAsH1NGifF66Sss,0 ''1 bece arf'c! 27.-rhe
conditions surrounding Count Czernin's
proposals for a basis OF peace cause
officials here 10 feel some apprehension
for their sincerity. There is dispo-
sition to feel that the object OF the
German plcnipotcntiarics is simply to
protract tho negotiations as long as
possible without any expectation OF an
immediate peace agreement with the
double purpose Of leading tho German
people to believe their government
really is DESTROYS of making peace, and
OF gaining time for the further
strengthening of tho German lines in
the west
/ One condition regarded as impossi-
BILE, for the present at least is that
the adherence OF all the beiliCercnts
must be secured to the peace the Ger
mans are trying to make with Russia
before 1t can become effective This
Is accompanied BY a demand for the
return Of the German colonies now in
possession Of Russias allies.
1t can be stated authoritatively that
the position Of the American govern
ment has not changed in any respect
with regard to it's determination to
enter into no agreement with a Gov
eminent which does not represent the
free will of the governed people. This
would dispose Of any hope the Germans
might have that the Russians could
induce America to subscribe to the
peace treaty which they are now trying
to arrange. AS for the German colo
mics. the American government has
and Lloyd George recently declared
that was a subject for. the peace con-
ference.
NO PROVISION For RETURN
OF ALSACE-LORRAINE
No provision is made in Count Ger
Minis terms for the return to France of
Alsace-Lorraine. which is regarded
here as condition that must be met
as preliminary to any peace agree
ment; an understanding declared by
President Wilson in his message TO
Congress.
In the light OF the extraordinary
efforts Germany has been making TO
rid those provinces OF French inhabi-
tants. it Is bclicvable here that Ger
many may propose a plebiscite OF in
habitants. relying upon the vote of
German soldiers and imported German
population but such a proposal prob
ably would be rejected by the United
States and her cobelllgercnts.
Apparently Belgium is promised
freedom By Count Czernin IL all the
other German demands are met. But
officials note there is a reservation. al
most inseparable from German din!o
macy, in the shape Of guarantees"
which Germany requires to insure the
execution of all these complicated fac
tors of the peace treaty. From public
declarations of German statesmen and
publicists. il is understood, that as
guarantees" Germany would insist on
retaining control OF Belgium for an
indefinite period.
AIMED DIRECTLY Ar
PROPOSED POLISH STATE;
The German insistcnce that the
pledge TO restore the political indeDen-
dence OF countries occupied By the
central powers shall not apply to ma
lonaiities which did not previously
ENJOY independence, is regarded as
aimed directly at the projected Polish
state Even were such state created
as result OF the peace treaty, il
would have to be on the lines of the
subject Kingdoms which Germany and
Austria already have created
1t is accepted by Washington off,
Gals that the central powers are pre-
pared TO make every effort to regain
control OF Russian trade and markets.
which are threatening to pass to Amer
lea In return for Americas substantial
assistance in the war
Scrupulous care was taken by the
state Depa rtmcnt not to commit itself
IN any comment on the peace promo
sal. No official intimation OF tho
terms had reached the department. and
how such suggestions might be con-
Vcyed TO the United States or entente
governments was unknown