The Washington herald., 1917-01-05
U. S. MEDIATION
Offer IN SECOND
NOTE BY WILSON
Conferences at White House
Said to Have Determined
Immediate Action.
BERNSTORFF CONFIDENT
Generally Credited by DipIomstists
that the President Has
German Terms.
CBy tn. international New. s.r,,e.-,

Iby the international Nevs servfee-l
Active and aggressive mediation by
President Wilson, in an effort TO br4ng
the European war TO a close. have been
'7cided on by the administration IN con-
ferences here yesterday. After President
Wilson, Col. Z. NJ House. his closest
confidential adviser. and Secretary OF
State Lansing had reviewed the peace
situation in all its phases. the following
developments became apparent:
The President has determined 70 send
another peace communication. either in
formal diplomatic style or as a conf
DENTAL message through American Am
bsssadors. to the European powers. I'M
less negotiations are Unexpectedly inter
rupted.
Advices from the entente capttsl, le6
the administration TO believe that the
forthcoming entente reply to the Prest-
dents peace note would leave the door
open for further negotiations and would
pave the way for the new communication.
definite and clear statement OF the
terms upon which Germany will end the
war. already believed to have been placed
IN the Presidents hands, Will become the
basis for the continued negotiations
What Diplomats Say.
Diplomatic Washington believe. .h,.
the President has taken the world, n.sc,-
situation in his own hands and that he is
In position to proceed at once to rnedf-
ate the difference between the expressed
peace terms Of the two groups Of warrfns
nations
1t was accepted that the final peace
terms Of the entente powers are now
0T7NNT VgGNFI
President Wilson credentials as an ac-
ceptable mediator.
With these IN his hands the President
may proceed at once with negotiations
10 accommodate the differences in the
new peace-term statement On advicex
from abroad diplomatic circles here
formed the conclusion that the outlook
was favorable for final submission OF
terms by the entente.
It was stated suthoritstfvely that the
entente peace reply, now prepared, woulo
not by its tone or form halt further
negotiations. and that the entente allies
could be expected to respond fsvorably
70 a request for definite confidential
statement OF peace terms.
Col. House Active
Col T. NJ. House, who has been active
in the Presidents peace propaganda since
its inception. took the center OF the stage
IN the peace situation. He held two
lengthy conferences with the President,
and between times went over the situa-
ton for more than an hour with Secre-
tsry Lansing. He preserved his usual
silence. II Is said. however, that he re-
viewed the advance notes on the German
peace terms, and advised the President
on future negotiations
Administration Senators made another
effort to force an Endorsement OF the
Presidents peace move yesterday. but
were defeated temporarily by a deternfn-
ed Republican opposition. The hght will
be continued today. as the Senate kept
the matter before it by taking a recess.
4 While neither the State Department nor
the White House would liscuss the Ger
man peace terms last night, some idea OF
their provisions were obtainable in diplo-
matte circles.
At the German Embassy the same
optimism which has characterized the
entire peace move was evident Ambas-
ssdor Won Bernstor1 declared that he was
confident the President would secure re-
suits in his peace campaign.
II can be stated on high authority, close
TO the Germany Embassy. that Germany
is now prepared to give the entente pow
ers those assurances for the future
which have been made the prime requisite
OF peace terms in all entente uttersnces
on the subject The German Embassy
believes these assurances will prove sat
isfactory. Whether or not they deal with
CONTINUED on PAGE THREE.