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Show . SEE STEP ro PEACE IN REPLY . OF BERLIN Washington Believes 1 Note Is Prelude to j Series of Delicate Dip-' Dip-' lomatic Exchanges for Discussion of Terms ' Satisfactory to All Belligerents. Bel-ligerents. OFFICIAL COPY STILL AWAITED Entente Diplomats De-dare De-dare Subtle Motive Is Behind Answer; Lack of Definite Statement, Asked by Wilson, May Be Stumbling Block. WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 26. Ger-manv's'reply Ger-manv's'reply to President Wilson's note is regarded here as having advanced the peace movement another step, de-jrBsP'le de-jrBsP'le the faxrt that it disappoints in not meeting his suggestion for an avowal of terms. The reception of Germanj 's reply receives re-ceives among the entente allies, whose statesmen have publicly declared against Bni:h a programme, now becomes the point upon which a further move ie hinged. The German note probably is f the preltid to a series of carefuUy considered con-sidered delicate moves in the great game of world diplomacy, all possibly leading lead-ing to an approach for a real discussion I of peace terms on grounds which all the belligerents may feel can place them at no disadvantage. Step to Peace. - This is the official view of Germany's reply so far as it has been formulated on the basis of the unof8cial text. The official copy bus not been received tonight, to-night, and President Wilson was keeping his mind open, i Neutral diplomatic quarters, too, re garded the note as a step toward peace, and rather leaDed to the view that Germany Ger-many might follow it with a confidential communication of some sort .outlining her terms, Th views of the entente embassies, frankly expressed,- was that the note was not an answer to President Wilson 's eommunteai ion, but rather a document lor circulation in Gormanv and in neutral neu-tral countries, with the ob.iect of moulding mould-ing opinion to place the responsibility for continuing the war on the entente. Among the Germanic diplomats the only view expressed was one of surprise that the reply had preceded receipt of the entente 's response to Germany 's origi-oal origi-oal peace proposal on December 111. Lack of Terms. Tt was everywhere npreed that the principal prin-cipal sticking point was th lark of a definite statement of terms such as President Wilson asked and auch an I.lnyd Oorce declared t he allies would f require if they wer not to put Their "heads In a noose with the -rope end )n tho hands of the Germans." It. In not beyond the realm of diplomacy, however, to find a way (o bridge that difficulty, and Germany's failure. Is not regarded as a Mock to the necotiatlonn. although it mnkpa them exceedingly difficult. Germany's declaration that she repardn the work of securing the world against future wars, the work to be taken up nfier the present conflict was ended, was regarded wtlh diversity of opinion. Harmony Seen. Officials who turned back and compare com-pare the statement with the phrases of President Wilson's note did not find the two cut of harmony, nor In disagreement wlih the. president's public utterances on a world league to preserve peace, yet , there was an indefinable opinion abroad t In official quarters that the ending of the war and the safeguarding of peace of the future were a Joint problem so Inseparable Insepara-ble that one depended on the other. Those taking this view referred to I.Ioyd Georco's declaration that the allies would consider it possible to enter a conference nly If Germany would first, openly offer "rera ration, rest! tut ion and guarantees." The German reply Is regarded as1 not Cm ly falling to do this, but Its suggestion tbat the work be left for the future. It Is feared, - may raise a difficult obstacle for the allied statesmen to surmount with their own people, to whom an absolutely durable peace has been held out as one , of the main justifications of the war. It also has been sheafed hv the allies' statesmen states-men with the terms which would end the conflict. I'npopular as such a concession nilcht he In the entente countries, the very enormity of the subject, viewed in the rold Hirfit of diplomacy. Is retarded here ns sufficient to require a separate con-i con-i ference. but one which mlcht proneriy be intertwined with the peace meetings. ' One sugcestlon is that the conference (Continued on Pago Three.) SEE STEP TO PEACE IH EEBMMI ANSWER (Continued from Page One.) might bind the belligerents in a solemn declaration and pledge to carry out reorganization re-organization of the International balance and leave the actual details such as demobilization, de-mobilization, limitation of armament, military budgets and the Like for a sep-i sep-i arate conference untrammeUed by the difficulties dif-ficulties sure to surround the first meeting. meet-ing. The difficulties which nearly broke up the rjrst Hague peace conference were recalled today as an indication or" what would confront the delegates. j Germany's proposal for an "immediate I meeting of delegates at a neutral place" j is received as admittedly much more spe- J cifift than the original to "enter forth- ; with into peace negotiations" and to go j even further than President Wilson's sug- j gestion that "soundings be taken." See Step to Peace. j This alone was singled out by those who j regarded the reply as a step toward peace , despite the repeated declaration of al- j lied statesmen, that it was impossible without a statement of Germany's terms. 1 They expect these two positions, apparently appar-ently far apart, to be reconciled by the art of diplomacy. ; Mow far the United SHates can or will be concerned in that can only be decided decid-ed by President Wilson. Officials assume that Germany expects the United States to inform her enemies on her reply. Two features of the note beclouded the situation slightly and caused some concern con-cern among officials here. The first was the giving out of tile text in Berlin before be-fore it had opportunity to reach Washington Wash-ington and the other was the connection of the reply with the original German peace proposal. President Wilson went to great pains in his note to disavow any assort ion or' influence with this proposal and the association in the German reply was somewhat disquieting to officials, who foresee the necessity of probably reiterating re-iterating the position of this government. Entente Watched. Pending receipt of the official text, attention at-tention turns to the reply of the entente governments. At their embassies here the view prevails that t heir answer, while expressing sympathetic regard for the president s purposes and ideals, will decline de-cline to negotiate on the status quo. The entente reply to t lie German proposals Is expected to be couched in the sharpest language, probably taking opportunity to lay stress on the moral question to which their statesmen have devoted much attention atten-tion in public utterances. Dispatches today from Petrograd outlining out-lining the official view there, foreshadowing foreshadow-ing that the allies would not discuss peace terms until they stood In military possession posses-sion of territory they claim, attracted much attention. The German official answer, which also contains the reply of Austria -Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, says: The high-minded suggestion made by the president of the United States of America, in order to create a basis for the establishment of a lasting peace, has been received and considered consid-ered by the imperial government In the friendly spirit which was expressed ex-pressed in the president's communication. communi-cation. Would Exchange Views. The president points ou that which he has at heart and leaves open the choice of road. To the imperial government an immediate im-mediate exchange of views seems to be the most appropriate road in order or-der to rpach the desired result. Jt begs, therefore, In the sense of the decla ration made on December 1 2, which offered a hand for peace negotiations, nego-tiations, to propose an Immediate meeting of delegates of the belligerent states, at a neutral place. The imperial government is also of the opinion that the great work of preventing further wars can be begun only after the end of the present struggle of the nations. ft will, when this moment shall have come, he ready with pleasure to collaborale entirely with the United States in this exalted task. The answer of the central powers concludes con-cludes with the usual diplomatic terms of politeness. Abolish Ford Commission. THE HAGUE, Dec. 26. The recent moves toward bringing about a discussion of peace have resulted In the substitution for the Ford neutral conference for continuous con-tinuous medial ion of a new International commission, with ramifications in Kurope and the United States. The membership of the commission will include prominent politicians, diplomats and theoreticians, and its task will be to obtain Intelligent ideas as to the conditions for a lasting peace. The headquarters will remain at The Hague. I Louis P. Lochner of Chicago will continue con-tinue as secretary of the commission. Would Continue War. PATHS, Dec. 6, 1:1 "i a. m. Tn addresses at t he national congress of' the French Socialist parly Arthur Henderson, the British cabinet minister, and G. 11. Robert:-, member of tlte British parliament, both affirmed amidst enthusiastic cheers, that the war must be fought out until full guaiautees have been obtained for a lasting last-ing peace. "In my opinion," said Mr. Henderson, "if France find ourselves were to enter into negotiations under existing conditions, condi-tions, we should be nations in bondage. Nothing less than that Is the prie our enemies would exact for peace today." |