New-York tribune., 1918-05-07

regarded by the department as news
rather than as something requiring Oh
sicial attention. AS matter of course,
however, it probably will be the sub
ject Of private consultation between
the Entente governments and America.
Holland Ready to Act
1t is known that from time to time
The State Department has been in
formed through unofficial sources that
influential persons in Holland were in
position, whenever the American gov
ernment cared to discuss the subject,
the submit outlines of a possible peace
plan which would correctly represent
the extent of the concessions which
Germany would be willing to make.
Foreign Minister Balfour's positive
statement in the House of Commons
that no suggestions of peace negoti-
ations had come to Great Britain
through a neutral, seemed 70 put the
situation beyond the realm OF serious
consideration. Yet, there are some
here, who, looking forward TO the day
when q peace offer will be made which
will become the basis of preliminary
negotiations, were inclined to examine
the terms as outlined in the London
dispatches with a. great deal of Gu
riosity.
"peace by Map Proposal
At a first reading officials were dis
posed to apply the same "made in
Germany" Characterization to the latest
Offering 1t was recognized as what
has come to be known as a "peace by
terms, the history Of the war has
shown, follow fresh gains of territory
by her armies.
President Wilson's declaration for
force to the utmost until the German
military autocracy is broken and the
response it received from the Allied
governments and people would seem to
put the purported German offer out Of
consideration, principally because OF
It's proposal of status quo in the East,
which can be interpreted only as a
peace leaving Germany in practical
possession of Russia, which a British
official recently declared would leave
Germany III position to fight the whole
werld indefinitely.
But despite the fact that the United
States and the Allies make no secret of
being frankly suspicious Of any Ger
man peace offer and are determined not
TO be trapped into a premature peace
through = propaganda which easily
might grow from an unfortunate con-
slderatlon of an lnslncere offer, 1t
seems plain TO observers here that II
new offer had been made it will re-
ceive the same careful and cautious
scrutiny that the others have, and if
it is as grossly unacceptable as were
its predecessors it probably would not
even receive the formality of a rejec-
ton.
viii Study All Offers
The American government will get
its own appraisal of any offer through
its own diplomatic agents, and, in ad
dition, will receive the benefit of in
vestigation by the Allied governments.
If the full examination of any offer
is found to have grounds for considera
ton at all, the Allied governments will
act together.
Of the eight points in outline, the
one proposing to leave the Russian
debace undisturbed attracts most at
tention. 1t is regarded az fulfilling
predictions of weeks ago that Ger
many would decide she could afford to
give up her conquests in the West, if
she might retain her gains in Russia,
which, it was declared, would more
than recoup her in agriculture and
war-making minerals for all she would
relinquish in giving up Belgium and
Northern France.