Show t c J t. t t c t. t Aid of U. U S. S Is Sought ought in n ro g Pe Peace Ce PATH PAT NOW OPEN Pf rR FOR MEDIATION o TION President Wilson ilson May F F Find d dWay dWay Way in Transmitting to Entente Allies German Proposal to Suggest Wish of U. U S. S for r Lasting Peace LEAGUE GUE OF NATIONS POSSIBLE OUTCOME IE German Gennan Embassy A Advices Indicate Purpose of Berlin Berli to Propose Evacuation of 13 Belgium iron and C Restoration Status Existing E Before WarNO War WarNO NO TR TRUCE CE IS POSSIBLE T Dec 12 Ger Ger Germanys Germany's many's mans proposal for peace is regarded here as having broken the thc chains which for months have restrained restrained re restrained re- re strained the United States as well as us other neutrals from making offers of mc mediation i tion I Xo that one set of belligerents has signified Its Its' willingness to discuss peace pe-aco terms terms terms-a a condition often otten reiterated reiterated reiter reiter- I as necessary ary to any action by President Wilson there Wilson there Indications are that when the United States State acting as the Intermediary Int transmits the U German Ger- Ger r- r man proposal It may accompany It action b by some steps step to throw th the tha In Influence Influence In- In fluence of oc the tho United States Into lie he balance for tor at least a consideration however preliminary of ur the thc terms on nn which a lasting peace s might bo bc brought rou routt tt to I the world Some Sorno ranking officials of oC the American government believe c a n. lE league gue of ot nations such as President Wilson has suggested must bo be th the thu outcome outcome outcome out out- come and It could not be perfected without the participation of or the tho United States Whether the United States will trans trans- I Continued on Page Pago 7 7 I PATH NOW OPEN I FOR MEDIATION Wilson May Throw In Influence Influence luence lu- lu ence o of U. U S S. S Into Balance to Obtain Lasting Peace Continued from tram Page 1 1 mit time the German proposal without an any comment whatever or accompany it I With Ith some formal or Informal expression sion slon will not be bo decided until the tho note delivered d to American Charge Charle Grew In Berlin reaches President Wilsons Wilson's hands probably tomorrow Th There re were indications that President President President dent Wilson Ilson ml might ht find somo some Voa way to express tho the solemn and earnest wish Ih Ihor of or the United States Slates for tor a a. careful carp consideration consideration con con- of or the suggestion of oC pe peace o even e before the thc entente governments have havo made known their attitude toward to toward toward to- to ward the German proposal This Thin It was lS pointed out would necessarily be bedone bedone bedone done In such uch a delicate and ultra con way that it never neer would be known publicly public should the allies de do- do cline tho the offer This course coura was said I to be bo absolutely l n necessary so as ns to I Il l leave avo th the United States free tree and unembarrassed unembarrassed I to act when an acceptable peace offer orter comes come May Send house Hoone to Europe Regardless of ot whether President Wilson Wilson Wilson Wil Wil- son decides to accompany tho the German proposal with an any word It was said tonight he unquestionably would take steps to learn the attitude of ot the en- en allies toward the peace move o and poe possibly might send to Europe his personal personal per per- friend and advisor Col E. E M. M 1 House None one of ot the official dispatches hn had arrived tonight The Tire governments government's first Information was conveyed In the Associated Press dispatches from Berlin Berlin Ber Ber- lin President Wilson was said to be deeply Interested but reserving com com- ment Secretary Lansing maintained a a. similar attitude Tho The cabinet discussed discussed dis dis- cussed tho the development de at Its regular Tuesday meeting but tho the situation was wat described b by members ae at so obviously obviously ob l delicate that no announcement could b be made The absence of Rn any specific terms for peace In the tho note noto or In the German chancellors chancellor's speech was in a measure a a. disappointment to those who expected expect expect- ed somo some concrete expression of at a basis on which negotiations might begin bean The German embassy however r. r Is In possession of advices ad which outline I Ia in ina a general way a what Germany German expects and tho the diplomats of ot tho the entente pow pow- ers through h their means of ot being supplied with information believe they have ha a a. general idea of or what hat terms the central powers fire are willing to advance ad as time the basis of ot discussion Probable Terms Outlined Recent dispatches to the German embassy Indicate a belief that the general general general gen gen- eral terms might bo ho In substance as follows A restoration of ot the status quo exIsting existing existing ex ex- before the war This Includes the evacuation 0 of at Belgium and tho the resI restoration restoration res res- of at the occupied portions of at I I northern France with the tho exception of oC Alsace and Lorraine No o authorized expression was Wa obtainable from the tho embassy as to whether conditions could be attached to the restoration of oC Belgium and French rench territory but it was as understood that the Gorman idea was to m make provision for tor the tho fu future future tu- tu ture Lure neutrality of at Belgium and probably probably abl ably propose particularly particularly of ot the city of or Antwerp It was also understood that no conditions amounting to economic control of the tho mineral lands of ot northern France Franco would be bo asked All Germanys Germany's lost colonies she expects to be returned Her lier possessions pos- pos sessions In the Pacific however hotro are arc not a subject of at great concern and the Berlin government so Is understood to be re ready td to relinquish tho the claim of at The security of or Turkey In possession of at Constantinople would probably be Insisted upon b by the central powers as aswell aswell well as the restoration of or Albania I The establishment of ot Independent kingdoms in Lithuania and Poland would be bo one of or tho the t factors In the German proposal although that part of ot I I Poland possessed L by Germany German at the outbreak of ot tho the war would not be In Included In- In I What adjustment would be made to cover the I Trentino region between Austria Austria Aus Aus- tria and Ita Italy I or an any provision pro affecting affecting affect affect- ing F. F Egypt Pt the Suez canal Mesopotamia or tho the gateways g of ot control to the tho In Indian ln- ln dian llian empire are not made clear The Balkan situation Is la considered cons so 60 delicate it would have ha to l be e untangled In peace conference The whole German vi view ow of ot tho the peace move mo moIs Is that It Is a step toward a discussion dis dis- of or peace terms which ought to show somo some definite progress carl early In III January Januar There Is said to be bo no po pos pos- s n of n nj n. c nr tco rh int rf nr A l h bein rf ln held halt hAlli I i sn In n ih the United States Bern r an and Tho Tho ThoI ho hoI I Hague are arc mentioned as ns most roost likely l I places and It H Is not doubted that Count Counton von on Bernstorff the German ambassador here would go as one n of or hl his country country's a representatives His attitude was expressed ox- ox pressed sed tonight In the following statement statement state state- ment I am of or course extremely gratified at the that has been taken 1 I 1 hope hOlH that It will ko Le successful en 1 If It It I does not lead to pence peace It ofer offers proof that Germany German wants wanly peace even after a 1 victorious campaign and docs does not d desire de de- sire the responsibility for tor further suffering suffering suf sur- loss 1088 life lire and fering of or mankind of ot Ii property Germany German wants pence peace and anti does not desire conquest I cannot en say an anything about the tha terms term VIc I M of Allies Slue Diplomats Diplomats of ot the entente allies here her regard tho the peace pence offer otier as having the double purpose of placing upon tho the allies the responsibility for continuing the war and of or Impressing upon tho the German p people that the they are arc fighting a defensive conflict a against t enemies who refuse quarter Coming immediately Immedi immedi- Immediately after the culmination of the triumphant triumphant tri tri- Rumanian campaign the peace pence offer ent nto diplomats say n l 1 11 Intended also to lo Impress the C German people that th they need have ha no lack of or confidence in their government go to continue con ante lo the war war- Based upon the Information front from their homo home governments tho time diplomats believe Germanys Germany's terms terms' aro are In general about as 18 follows of Belgium but with conditions which we would practically leave leavo it under German n control and probably give ghe over the tho port of ot Antwerp to to Germany German Restoration of the occupied portions of ot northern corthern France but with economic control which would guarantee to Germany Ger Ger- a Germany r- r man many supplies of at Iron and other raw materials drawn from there Domination of Mesopotamia by German Germany Germany Ger Ger- man many and an Austria to give them thorn a a. path vath I to the Persian gulf gult and break brenk England's England's Eng Eng- lands land's gateway to India and Egypt I To award to Bulgaria all of ot Serbia as far south as Nish Ish which would ouM take I 3 from Crom Serbia an R much territory as al she gained In the tiro Balkan wars They expect expect ex ex- I Germany will demand the return of her African colonies or at least propose propose pro pro- pose to exchange them for Cor the French colonies Turkeys Turkey's Interests are considered a minor affair and not rull fully developed Into consideration o or of peace The attitude of ot the nations of ot the Germanic allies aides it is expected will be Le set forth In fu the notes which have I been dispatched from tram Sofia and Constantinople Con Con- Con 1 I and nothing nothing- of ot them Is known at tho the Balkan legations here her 1 I except that Bulgaria probably will 11 expect expect ex- ex x- x I to get Macedonia and j which Cormer formerly Lelon belonged ed to her ber making the Danube tho the boundary between Bulgaria Bul- Bul I garia sarla and Rumania and sh shutting the I latter from tram tho Black s sea a. a Ir Precedent to JJ lie Be Followed The actual procedure in conveying con Germanys Germany's a proposal to her enemies 8 ac according according ac- ac cording to precedent Leg begins ns with Charge Grew forwarding the note to Washington Tho The state department then will forward It to the American ambassador rc resident In tho county country to tobe tobe tobe be addressed and he ho In turn will present pro pro- sent sont It to that government o acting acting- In Inthe inthe the Interest of or Germany German and her allies Tho The i United States now represents Germany German Ger Ger- cr I man many and Austria n n Belgium France f Great Britain Japan Russia Serbia i and Rumania It represents Turkey In France Great Gret Britain and anti Japan It I does not represent Bulgaria a. a anywhere and represents none nono of ot the tho belligerents I in Ital Italy Portugal or Montenegro One effect of oC the tho peace developments de on the United States will L be to hold practically in io abeyance I all the tho diplomatic Issues pending with the warring countries Tho The now new submarine submarine submarine sub sub- marine Is Issue Isse ue with Germany tho protest protest pro pro- test against deportation of ot Bel Belgians ians the controversy ers with Great Britain over O malls mails and commerce all aU will mark time until It becomes apparent whether the they will ill he sowed solved by the advent atI of at p peace pace ace ne Regardless of ot how far tar Germanys Germany proposal ma may be bc expected to go o toward ending the war It was regarded as of ot greatest significance that for tho the first time In two and a half halt years ears of oC war ono one group roup of oC belligerents had hatI addressed addressed ad ad- tIre dressed g d the other on tho the subject ct through h the channels of ot diplomacy In German quarters here It Is be believed believed be- be that nn any sort of an armistice during a a. discussion of or peace plans w would be bo out of or the tho question because this Is an nn economic as well as n military 1 l Iwar war It would mean menn great loss 1 of time I and In the event C of ot failure of ot overtures I probably see eee the opening opening- of ot tho the spring i I campaign without anything pushed Meanwhile the central powers powers pow pow- ers It Is said expect all neutrals to encourage peace talk |