The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-13
President Will Resume His e.
forts to Bring Warning Ma
tons to Conference Table
LOOK FOR STATEMENT
FROM CENTRAL POWERS
Germany May Make Reply
Giving Terms, Which Would
Afford tasis On Which to
Work for Composition

Washington. Jan. l2.--President
Wilson today took steps to resume.
win redoubIed vigor, his efforts TO
end the war in Europe. Convinced that
the reply OF the entente powers to
his original peace note. by no means
precludes further peace proposals on
his part. n called together his adYis-
ers to consider what form the next
move shall take
At the regular meeting of the Cabi-
net today, the President told the sec
retaries that he considered the door
to peace negotiations stiil open. He
took UP with the Cabinet. and with
Colonel T.. NJ. House. his closest con-
fidentlai adviser. the situation de-
veloped through the entente peace re-
ply. and the German note TO neutrals
in response to the entente refusal to
consider the direct German peace pro-
posals, 1t can be stated on authority
that the administration feels that
while direct negotiations between the
two belligerent groups have come TO
an impasse. the way is still clear for
mediatory negotiations through the
President
what the Presidents next move viii
be has not yet been determined. but II
is certain that 1t will be- surrounded
by the closest secrecy. The President
feels that the open peace discussions
through diplomatic notes has reached
the limit and that further moves. TO
b. successful, must be made through
confidential communications.
Further Moves to BE secret.
As a result the peace negotiations
may now be expected to disappear into
the murky and devious depths of Sc
cret diplomacy. Colonel House. secre
tary of State Lansing and the Presi-
dent himself will probably be the only
persons informed as to the course of
the future peace moves,
That Colonel House was called into
conference today was looked upon in
Washington as a possible indication
that the President confidential advis
er might undertake a secret peace
mission to Europe. Colonel House
travelled extensively between the cap
itals Of the European belligerents for
the President, sounding out peace SEN
timent before the President initiated
his peace plans 1t is certain that the
President feels that no one is better
qualified to undertake the delicate task
of conducting unofficial neEotia-
lions with. either of the groups of bell
leereuts. II the President decides that
the confidential nature Of the peace
DISCUSSIONS from no" tN N'Niu btN-
ter be carried on outside Of the regular
diplomatic channels, there is no doubt
thar Colonel House will be called upon.
May Wait German Reply.
The Presidents next peace move may
be. delayed until Germany has had an
opportunity either directly or indirect
~ TO act upon the entente statement
OF peace terms sent to the President.
Whether this statement with the re-
mainder OF yesterdays note would be
forwarded to Berlin through diplomat
+. channels the State Department was
unable TO say tonight. But il is ex-
pected that Germany viii take cogni-
zance of the note. probably when
Chancellor Won Bethmann- Hollweg ad-
dresses the Reichstag TO formally an
nounce the failure of the direct peace
proposals of Germany. The chancel-
lors speech diplomatic Washington
believes. will once more go into the
controversy over who is responsible
for the war
Want Germany's Terms.
The Presidents next peace effort may
take the form of move to bring into
the open detailed peace terms state
ment of Germany. with the entente
peace terms. drastic as they may be,
set forth clearly in the entente reply
10 the President. similar statement
from Germany, the administration be-
lieves would do much to clarity the
situation With both sets of peace
terms i'm his hands. no matter how
widely they may differ, the President
would be in position to conduct ne
gotiations In the direction of reconcil-
ing the differences.
Think AT StaRdstfll.
The optimism in administration cir