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Show oo PIPE'S PROPOSAL 18 BEJJFiTED WASHINGTON, Aug. 17. Premier Lloyd George's optimistic speech In tho British parliament yesterday was interpreted here as a preliminary indication in-dication of the attitude tho allied nations na-tions may be expected to adopt toward any discussion of peace on a basis which might permit Germany, as a conqueror, con-queror, to dlcLate terms. News of the promier's speech came while the state department was receiving re-ceiving by cable from the British foreign for-eign office the text of Pope Benedict's message to the leaders of all belligerent belliger-ent nations, proposing a basis for peace negotiations and earnestly appealing ap-pealing for its consideration. In entente en-tente diplomatic quarters and among government officials, Mr. Lloyd George's announcement of improvement improve-ment in food conditions, removing the danger of England being starved into submission, his assuranco that losses through submarine attacks continued to decrease and his declaration that there would bo sufficient tonnage for 1918 and for 1919. if necessary, were hailed joyfully as a sign of Great Britain's Brit-ain's safe position and firm attitude. The pope's message was laid before President Wilson by Socrotary Lansing. Lans-ing. Important conferences which must precede a reply will begin short- . ly. but necessarily some time must elapse before the response goes for- ! ward. ' - umc ueou inuiiy informal conferences among officials and diplomats regarding the popo's proposals, it may be stated on Secretary Secre-tary Lansing's authority that the sec-i sec-i retary so far has not discussed the sub-Iject sub-Iject with the president and. also has I refrained from communicating his I viows regarding the character of the roply which should be made to any of the many diplomatic callers'he has had since the first press notice of the dispatch dis-patch of the pope's communication. Mr. Lansing has felt that it "would be Improper to indicate, even in a personal per-sonal way. what ho thought of tho communication com-munication and he has also deprecated any attempt by the newspapors to forecast fore-cast tho action of the government in this matter, as likely to prove very embarrassing. Cannot Make Peace. Among other officials and tho diplomats, diplo-mats, however, there is no such reticence. reti-cence. While battles have increased in number and waxed in intonsltv and tho slaughter has continued In the most distressful manner, It is pointed out there has been no such change in general war conditions as would warrant war-rant a different reception for peace proposals from any quurtor than would have been accorded to those made a year. Attention is directed to the fact that any such changes as may have occurred in the military situation have made It distinctly to the advantage of the central powers to endeavor to make peace now. Notwithstanding the different and conflicting statements made by German Ger-man and Austrian ministers as to a basis of peace negotiations, it is declared de-clared by some of tho diplomats who have closoly studied tho situation that nowhere has there been any real ovl-denco ovl-denco of an abandonment of the first German-demand for- a peace basod "on 1 v - - the' may," which would insure the central cen-tral powers actual military, if not technical and political, control of the territories in possession of the Gorman Gor-man troops when peace is declared. The Germans, In possession of most of Belgium and a laige part of France, were quite willing a year ago to mako peace. But with the Russians in possession pos-session of some of their best eastern provinces, the Austrian government was not of like mind. Now It is pointed point-ed out by the entente diplomats, as a result of the collapse of the Russian offensive and the clearing of Galicia of Russian troops, the Austrian government gov-ernment also Is willing and anxious for peace, as are the Germans, in the knowledge that the tide has turned against them In the west and that next year probably'will find them In possession posses-sion of little or no French and Belgian territory. It Is admitted by these diplomats that it is disconceivable that the Vatican Vati-can should have been influenced by any of these military considerations, but it is insisted that they must be taken into account by the foreign offices of-fices of the entente powers when they pass upon the pope's appeal. In addition to consulting with President Presi-dent Wilson. Secretary Lansing will begin now to ascertain the views of tho entente governments regarding tho pope's message. Although no party to a formal alliance, the United States, having joined fortunes with the entente en-tente allies in the supreme struggle j for democratic ideals, the necessity and propriety of consulting with them as to any measures looking to peace is obvious. I It is probable that before the formal replies are made statesmen in the various va-rious entente countries will, in a way, test out public sentiment by individual statements. It is believed in Wash-1 ington that this was one of the pur-1 poses of Lloyd George's speech in parliament. |