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Show S4 E I T E I T l No Suggestions Made as to Hope of This Country Coun-try That Peace Negotiations Nego-tiations May Be Set on Foot as Result of the Proposals Made by Germany. VON BERNSTORFF VISITS LANSING Informs Secretary Central Cen-tral Powers Are Ready to Make Statement Embodying Preliminary Prelimi-nary Terms Upon Which Discussions May Be Based. NEW TOKK, Dec. 16. Copies of a resolution adopted by the American Amer-ican neutral conference cnimittee, Jm imploring the belligerent nations in r the name of the American people to . "V discuss peace terms, were forwarded forward-ed to the ambassadors of the warring war-ring countries today with the request re-quest that they be transmitted to their respective governments. By International News Service. WASHINGTON, Dec. 1(3. Count von Bernstorff, tho Gorman ambassador, visited the state department today and informed Secretary Lansing the central powers are ready to give the entente group a statement of the preliminary terms upon -which they propose to discuss dis-cuss peace. The German diplomat added that as 60on as a conference had been organized organ-ized his government would present full terms as a proposal for a definite peace. It is understood the proposals contemplate contem-plate an agreement for partial disarmament. disarma-ment. At the conclusion Ambassador von Bernstorff said: "I have not received any formal terms, and the American government knows officially that no formal terms have been proposed. All Germany has suggested is that the belligerents get together and talk. 'If that proposal is accepted, definite defi-nite terms naturally will be discussed, but until then it will not be proper to indulge in speculation. My visit to the secretary of state was purely for general discussion. ' ' Envoy Optimistic. The German ambassador was in a most optimistic frame of mind over the widespread sentiment for peace expressed ex-pressed in this country. He appeared f entirely satisfied with the course adopt- ed by this country. The peace notes were forwarded to London, Paris and Petrograd before noon today. The test of each communication com-munication was in English, but for purposes pur-poses of comparison the original text will be forwarded as soon as the cables are cleared of the English ttt. Hope was expressed at the state department de-partment that a reply would he received from the allies within ten dnvs. In anticipation an-ticipation of this President Wilson and Sccretarv Lansing will spend Christmas Christ-mas in Washington. Ambassador von Bernstorff also has cancelled arrangements arrange-ments for a Christmas vacation he had expected to spend in Florida. Diplomats Approve. The course adopted bv President Wilson Wil-son and the cabinet in deciding to transmit trans-mit the peace offer without comment at this time met with full approval among the neutral diplomats. It was declared de-clared to have been the only way to keep the question of peace oren. Spain and Switzerland, th rough their diplomatic representatives in Washington, Washing-ton, have advised the White house thev will be disposed to follow the lead of the United States in any action the president may decide to take. President Presi-dent Wilson is said to have expressed gratification over the assurances from the. neutrals, as it makes certain that no action will be taken in other quarters quar-ters which might conflict with the plans of this government. Waits for Lloyd George. Tt was said unoffieinllv at the White house today that the chief executive would not make any move to urge the acceptance of the peace offer until (Continued on Page Seventeen.) PRESIDENT SENDS NATES TO ENTENTE (Continued from Pago One.) David Lloyd George, the new British premier, has spoken. I Several of the president Ts advisers ! have urged him to defer any appeal he ! may decide to make imHi after the ! reply of the entente allies has been received re-ceived and transmitted to Germany. The White house position as outlined today is as follows; j The president is convinced that any i aL'tion by this government must be of I a formal character. The rights of the i United states are materially concerned' onlv with the continued infringements of ' : its liberties under existing international , law. This being so, the government has; : the right to speak freeiv regarding the j i i : advisability of ending Ihe war without giving offense to anyone. It is admitted officially at the state department that the t'nited States is rm interested party to the war, because it has blon made to suffer through the consequences of the world disturbance. The administration now Is receiving, through its diploma H' representatives, ! confidential advices as to how the fcv-! fcv-! eral nations in the entente L'roup feel Utwarrl poaff. The information is rom-irig rom-irig to the state department in code and lias not --0 far heen snb,iet'ted to rensor-shii. rensor-shii. President Wilson is spending much time studying t h s e rfi-nrt. It is believed in official circles that Great Britain will decide the reply ot hrr n'lirs. KnIjind is financing the war to a. lare extent, and that her allies al-lies will accept Iter decision is the opinion opin-ion of the entire diplomatic corf'?. Wilson Informed. Sec-rotary Lan-due. before leaving hi? office t'tay, comiiinnifiijn d the sub--: a n c e of t h c n n - c r s a t i n with t h p irermnn nmlifis-ndnr to President "WL1-r-nn. It i? undcr-tnod tiin c'r.jpf executive execu-tive wns Ui' Hcrmnnv is hnr(fnl the j nwHrf:il i nl i :!'!;. -p nf ihe l"n;tcn Stap? and that f ail fnhpr neutrals and the Vatican will be thrown on the si-ie (i peace. Kntentp diplonia's were, cratlv ii.tcr-Cr-trd in tie vi-ir ui 'Viimt un P-i-rn--;nrff U The strjte d"partni,',rt. Poili (hp p.: it i-h r.d r--r. -h r'-r rr-cnta' i vo-ii-ijiiir-'-.i w he: ;ut he kn sy-f 'hep. r..uu had nia-ic anv : L'L"--t :'r, cr,L-erti- h" ha 1 iT'T -jone o, thev rx7rr--e,J grati-f grati-f : h i . c n . |