The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-12
PROBLEMS OF
PEACE COME
BEFORE j. s.
AND ALLIES
Wilson Receives Appeal to
Save Germany From Star
vation Great Tasks Face
Army and Navy Comman-
ders.
INDUSTRIAL CHANGES
(By Associated Press,

(By Associated Press,
LONDON, Nov. 11-Germany
has requested the president of
the United States, according to
a German wireless from Berlin,
to arrange Immediately for the
opening of peace negotiations,
there being a pressing danger of
famine.
The German message was
sent by Foreign Secretary Solf
to Secretary Of State Lansing.
1t said:
'The ar1nistice being conclud-
ed, the German government re-
quests the president of the
United States to arrange for the
opening of peace negotiations.
For the purpose of their ac-
celeration the German govern
ment proposes first of all to
take into view the conclusion of
a preliminary peace and ask for
a communication as to what
place and what time the nego-
tiations might begin.
Gas there is a pressing dam
ger of famine the German gov
ernment is particularly anxious
for the negotiations to begin i'm
mediately.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12-
The appeal of DR.. Solf, foreign
secretary at Berlin, for inter-
vention by President Wilson for
mitigation of the arnistice
terms to save Germany from
starvation was delivered to Sec
retary Lansing by Minister Sui
zer of Switzerland. It was sent
Immediately to the president.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 70
America today turned toward
the ways Of peace.
With the military strength of
the central powers shattered and
hostilities ceased under terms of
surrender that preclude a renew
al Of the great struggle, the
United States, with the asso-
ciated governments, today took
up the problems of reconstruc-
tion.
Immediately ahead, however, dip!o-
matte Washington saw the peace con-
ference-the worlds court of justice
before which Germany as the chief
criminal with Austria, Turkey and
Bulgariaswill stand as prisoners at the
bar. When or where the final peace
negotiations will be held, officials
would not conjecture. Thirty days IS
the time allowed under the armistice
terms for assembling of the peace
delegates. The armistice. however,
includes a provision for it's extension.
The great interests involved. the
many governments and nationalities
concerned and the difficulties to be
met in convening such conference in
a short time may cause an extension
of the thirty days limit. 1t was re-
garded as likely that the peace con-
ference will be similar to the meeting
terms were formulated The victors
meeting separately probably will de-
! eide upon terms and then the defeat
ed be permitted to enter pleas of
modification.
Plan Demobilization.
"The military looked today TO the
| breaking up and return to civilian life
of the great army modified in the
past nineteen months. Further IN
crease of the military forces was
checked yesterday, through cance,la-
tion of all outstanding draft calls. The
return home of the nearly two and a
quarter million men overseas and the
mastering out of the million and a
| half troops in camps in this country
will not come Immediately. The Unit
| ed States entering the war last prob
! ably will he called upon to do much
of the police and guard duty in France
and Belgium. Future events In Rus
sia are uncertain and the small force
there may have to be augmented.
Transport facilities are more or less
| limited. .Embarkation of additional
units will not stop Immediately. Secre-
tary Baker has said, although the
troops to be sent overseas largely
will be medical and similar units.
For the navy great tasks lie ahead.
The sea must be swept clear of mines.
Occupation of the German naval base
of Helgoland may be necessary as a
result of the revolution In the German
grand feet Until peace finally is
concluded, there will be patrol work
to do.
Continued on Pare Ter,