isunderstood by the
German people, who, having made great sacrifices, had the right to
demand guarantees of security.

The above is all that Ambassador Gerard communicated as to his
conversation. He added only the brief comment that he, himself, thought
the way might possibly be opened to mediation. President Wilson did not
regard the message, however, as bringing anything tangible. He referred
to the Chancellor's conversation as non-committal and incidental to the
acknowledgment of the American Government's inquiry. The President
indicated that he rather expected a reply to the inquiry to be sent
eventually from the Emperor himself, although he realizes that the
Imperial Chancellor may have consulted the Kaiser by telegraph before
talking informally with the American Ambassador.

President Wilson took no action as a result of the message, waiting to
hear from Ambassador Gerard whether anything of a more formal character
could be obtained by him which the United States might communicate to
Great Britain, France, and Russia. It was understood tonight that the
British and French Ambassadors who are in Washington were not informed
officially or unofficially by Secretary Bryan of the conversation
between the Imperial German Chancellor and Ambassador Gerard.

Germany's position is that she will give her opinion on terms of peace
when she has received a definite statement from the Allies of their
proposals. The statement that Germany did not want war, but had it
forced upon her, as well as the declaration that she wanted a lasting
peace, is almost identical with the remarks which Sir Edward Grey made
to Ambassador Page in London last week. The British Foreign Secretary
said England wanted no temporary truce, but a permanent peace, and one
that would safeguard her against sudden attacks such as Germany had
made.

President's Future Course.

The general belief in well-informed circles tonight was that the
President, after waiting a few days for more information from
Berlin, probably would instruct the American Ambassadors at London,
Paris, and Petrograd to communicate what the Imperial German Chancellor
had said to Ambassador Gerard. It was believed the Ambassadors would be
asked to reiterate the wish of the American Government to be of service
in bringing about peace and to point out the readiness of the United
States to communicate to Germany and Austria any statement of terms
which the Allies might care to