Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-20
|STATE DOCUMENTS
| ON WAR RELEASED
Publication Withheld for
Year to Avoid Effect Upon
London Farley.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
A bulky volume Of state documents,
whose publication was delayed year
to avoid any international embarass-
ment while discussions preceding the
London Naval Conference were in prog
ress, today shed new light on the Dip
lomatic maneuvers of 1916.
The new publication, issued by the
State Department, reproduces notes ex-
changed between the powers and be-
tween American diplomats and the de-
partment during the period preceding
entry of the United States into the
World War. It was printed year ago
and prepared for distribution to the
press on August T. 1929, but was with
held until the London Treaty was rati-
fed by its Signatures.
Many of the papers contained were
published at the time the notes were
exchanged between the governments.
Others, particularly communications to
and from this country's foreign rep
resentatives. and memoranda on con-
versations between American officials
and foreign diplomats here. are new
to the public. BY far the larger part
of the volume deals with the subject
of neutral rights. Another section COW
cred peace overtures by the central
powers and their reception by the
allies.
The publication is in the nature of
q 1916 supplement to the departments
previously published volumes of papers
dealing with foreign relations.
Memorandum Answers Criticisms.
The first document in the publication
UaS the Ynor10ro drua raI1t hy Eray1tr r
Polk, then counselor for the State De-
partment, to Representative John J..
Fitzgerald in response to the latter's
request for information on action taken
by the department in protest to certain
acts of belligerentS in violation of inter-
national law. This memorandum mainly
answered criticism that the department
had been unneutral in its attitude
toward the central powers.
The documents showed the principal
attention of the world powers early in
1916 to be centered about the prospect
of the smaller countries of the Balkans
joining in the war, particularly Albania
and Rumania, and the question of con-
certed unification of the allies efforts
to stem the tide of defeat which threat
ened.
Closely following in interest wsrS
the early efforts toward peace, the
documents presenting a number of
communications between the State De-
partment and American diplomatic and
consular missions abroad on this sub
ject. One of the messages was from
James W. Gerard, then American AM
bassador to Germany. on May 2, 1916,
in which the diplomat said he had best
reason to believe Germany will welcome
mediation (of President Wilson, and
any steps he may take looking to peace"
Message Followed Talk With Kaiser.
This message was sent to the State
Department by Gerard after a lengthy
conversation with the Kaiser A few
days later word came from Madrid that
King Alfonso considered the time favor
| able, and was ready to cooperate with
President Wilson to obtain peace.
Throughout the year talk of peace
revived sporadically, becoming particu-
larry prominent on September IS
through a request by Germany that If
President Wilson would make an offer
Of good offices in general terms Ger
many would accept and be ready to send
delegates to peace conference In Oc-
tober the British Ambassador informed
the Secretary of State that his govern
n1ent regarded the German peace moves
as ''inSincere" and as propaganda to
throw the onus of continuing the war
onto the allies
Other overtures were made, mainly
informally, in Germany and Austria
Hungary with a view to bringing about
an end of the war
Talk OF peace also continued Ia EAe
other bellfgerent countries and was tia
subject of extensive discussions. titA
documents showed, among the diplo-
mats OF neutral powers throughout the
world.
Central Powers Proposed Peace.
The central powers on December u
communicated a definite peace offer to
the allies, which was transmitted by the
American Secretary of State to the rep
resentativeS here of the allies ON, De-
cember 16 for presentation to the gov
ernments concerned. The overtures of
the central powers we're turned down
by the allies.
In reality, the overture made by the
central powers is but an attempt cal
culated to work upon the evolution of
the war and of finally imposing a Ger
man peace" the allied governments
combined note, forwarded by the Amer
lean Ambassador in France, William q.
Sharp, to the State Department, De-
csmber 80, 1916, said.
The documents dealing with the cues
ton of neutral rights, most of which
previously had been published, traced
the development of American policy on
this question, and eliminated in the
United States declaration to Germany
that continued unrestricted submarine
warfare would lead TO this country's
entrance into the war.