Evening star., 1920-03-29
PEACE NOTE SET
EUROPE GUESSING
FIutter in 1916 Shown by Of.
ficiaI Ciphers in Archives
.
at Moscow.

IlCldI CipnerS III ArCIllVeS
at Moscow.
BY ISAAC DON LEVINE.
CThis is the second Of three articles disclos-
ing secret correspondence Of European dplo.
mats respecting President Wilson's famous
peace note Of December 1915. The documents
thus made public for the first time were OBJ
tanned by Mr.. Levine in the government ar.
chives in Moscow on his recent visit to soviet
Copyright, 1s2o)
President Wilson's note Of December
18. 1916. in which he invited the vari-
GUS warning nations Of Europe to
make known their respective views
as to the terms upon which the wal
might be concluded set the allied
governments and their representatives
in friendly capitals to guessing what
was the motive that inspired the
American executives action. One OF
these guesses. made by the British
minister in Copenhagen. was for
warded "enchiffres" Un cipher) by
Foreign Minister Balfour to Si1
George Buchanan. the British repre-
sentative at the court of the car
1t is as follows:
London, Dec. 23, 1915.
"En chiffres.
From Copenhagen. 2807,
There is little doubt in minds of all
allied representatives here that
though Presidents strong desire is to
play great part as peacemaker. main
reason for his action is fear OF
German submarines and Of being in
volved in war. President believes
allies incapable Of dealing with this
war and does not desire to he forced
Germans say United States govern
ment will prohibit Americans from
travelling on any but certain fword
illegible) ships. All other ships with
allied destination shall be destroyed.
TO avoid this eventuality President
mas oecioed to arrange a peace. OF
at least to begin peace negotiations
Thinks President Fears Submarines.
Tho next message Of tho series. all
OF which, az the notations show. were
transmitted in cipher Is from Sir
Secretary Balfour. in London. It was
dated. December Is, 1916. and It re-
lates to the reply to President Wilson
that was being framed by the allied
governments. Sir George telegraphs
to his chief as follows: ~
~"AAAAoSSI LO1 AOISlBn audIIA LOlQ 10
To-Day that. while approving substance
or French draft Of reply to American
peace proposals. he has suggested
terms should be somewhat modified.
In order to soften the tone. with ref
erence to President Wilson. and to
est Of neutrals. He would also like
some mention to be made of Ar
menian massacres likely to influence
American public opinion. AS have
not yet seen text Of reply, I could ex-
press no view about any modiflca-
tions."
A note from Secretary Balfour to
Sir gorge Buchanan, dated December
2S. 1916. transmits the following dis.
patch from the British ambassador in
Warrington:
From Washington, SS7.
Il consulted today with my French,
Russian and italian colleagues, who
all agreed that 1t would be dangerous
to write or say anything to offend
President, whose plans are probably
friendly at heart, but he 10 probably
acting under pressure Of fear. He be-
lieves neither United States nor allies
can deal with German submarines.
We think United States have no mill
tary preparations: that they could be
nothing In case Of war. and their ia
vorable readiness as regards financial
and provisional support is assured.
any menaces as to steps in case Of
refusal Of peace overtures as re-
ceived in way Of anonymous hints,
but We think this danger should be
borne in mind. We think answer
should be handed. not through US.
but United States representatives
abroad.
"a cautious and friendly answer.
as to our objections. would perhaps
be considered satisfactory. German
press hero declares Germany is pre-
pared to state her terms. but the al
lies do not wish 1t.
Russia's Reserve ~ to Poland
On January s. 1917, Secretary Bal
four teleprsphed tho following mes
sage from London to Sir George Bu-
chanan, in Petrograd:
which occurred to me personally on
reading text Of reply to President VIII
son AZ proposed by France and Rus
sian proposal made in Buchanan's
telegram N:15. Russia desires to leave
out any reference to United States Of
From the point Of view of American
public opinion II would be better to
leave the text in it's original form. In
the third alinea long sentence begin
ming 'toutes' and ending with this
moment Is rather long and compli-
Gated. and I have no particular desire
to see the original text restored, but I
suggest new sentence might be more
shortly worded. Terms Of somewhat
equal. character are proposed by the
sentence in the last lnea but two.
beginning with The - Europe
Russia suggests an amendment ON her
side which could be accepted, making
1t less heavy. I rather hope somethine
will be done in the direction they are
indicating.
Russia suggests a modification of
alinea about Poland. which am forced
to regard with much hesitation. what
We want to indicate to the whole
particular Is that one result Of war
will be to confer autonomy upon
Poland. Russians are, however. merely
stating 1t is intention Of Russia to
add German and Austrian Poland to
Russian Poland without giving any
ton OF Polish nation thus organized. I
do not quite know what objection
Russia felt to formula adopted In the
first text, but I feel quite clearly if
they insist on their point Of view as
1t stands effect will be serious. Refer
enoe to Poland. as it is now. differs in
one important point. and in one only.
from the reference to Poland in em-
peror's order Of the day to his army.
Free Is omitted before. Poland, and il
Russia insists our enemy will hasten
to take hold Of the charge as indi-
eating that Russia has changed her
Polish policy.
IN. N. has made q remark about last
alineas Of the document. Last alinea but
one 70 to begin with - quiz veut,'
but last begins with II - It does
not alter the number Of alineas, but IL
makes connection Of the sentences COM
posing them more clear and comprehen-
sible."