PART X.

PEACE OVERTURES OF THE CENTRAL POWERS AND REPLY OF ENTENTE POWERS.

Chargé Grew to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN EMBASSY, BERLIN, December 12, 1916.

Following is the official French translation of the peace communication handed to me by the Chancellor this morning, which I am now able to telegraph en clair, as the exact text has now been published.

BERLIN, December 12, 1916.

MR. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES: The most formidable war known to history has been ravaging for two and a half years a great part of the world. That catastrophe, that the bonds of common civilization more than a thousand years old could not stop, strikes mankind in its most precious patrimony; it threatens to bury under its ruins the moral and physical progress on which Europe prided itself at the dawn of the twentieth century. In that strife Germany and her allies-Austra-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey-have given proof of their indestructible strength in winning considerable successes at war. Their unshakable lines resist ceaseless attacks of their enemies' arms. The recent diversion in the Balkans was speedily and victoriously thwarted. The latest events have demonstrated that a continuation of the war can not break their resisting power. The general situation much rather justifies their hope of fresh successes. It was for the defense of their existence and freedom of their national development that the four Allied Powers were constrained to take up arms. The exploits of their armies have brought no change therein. Not for an instant have they swerved from the conviction that the respect of the rights of the other nations is not in any degree incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests. They do not seek to crush or annihilate their adversaries. Conscious of their

military and economic strength and ready to carry on to the end, if they must, the struggle that is forced upon them, but animated at the same time by the desire to stem the flood of blood and to bring the horrors of war to an end, the four Allied Powers propose to enter even now into peace negotiations. They feel sure that the propositions which they would bring forward and which would aim to assure the existence, honor, and free development of their peoples, would be such as to serve as a basis for the restoration of a lasting peace.

If notwithstanding this offer of peace and concilation the struggle should continue, the four Allied Powers are resolved to carry it on to a victorious end, while solemnly disclaiming any responsibility before mankind and history.

The Imperial Government has the honor to ask through your obliging medium the Government of the United States to be pleased to transmit the present communication to the Government of the French Republic, to the Royal Government of Great Britian, to the Imperial Government of Japan, to the Royal Government of Roumania, to the Imperial Government of Russia, and to the Royal Government of Servia.

I take this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Chargé d'Affaires, the assurance of my high consideration.

Constantinople, December 12, 1916.

Mr. Elkus reports receipt of note from. Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs as follows:

MR. AMBASSADOR:

The most formidable war known to history has for the last two years and a half been ravaging a large part of the world. This catastrophe, which the bonds of a common civilization of more than a thousand years have been unable to prevent, affects the most precious heritage of humanity: It threatens to engulf in its ruins the moral and material progress of which Europe prided itself in the beginning of the twentieth century.

In this struggle the Ottoman Empire and its allies, Germany, 'Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, have given proof of their indestructible force by gaining notable successes over their numerically superior adversaries. Their unshakable lines resist the unceasing attacks of the armies of their enemies. The recent attempts in the Balkans have been rapidly and victoriously checked. The latest events have shown that the continuation of the war could not break the force of their resistance. On the contrary the general situation entitles them to hope for fresh successes. It was to defend their existence and the freedom of their national development that the four Allied Powers were obliged to take up arms. The exploits of their armies have changed nothing in this respect. Not for one moment did they depart from the conviction that to respect the rights of other nations is by no means incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests. They do not seek to crush or annihilate their adversaries. Conscious of their military and economic strength and ready if necessary to continue to a finish the struggle which was forced on them, but actuated at the same time by a desire to stop the bloodshed and to put an end to the horrors of the war, the four Allied Powers are now ready to enter into negotiations for peace. They are convinced that the proposals to be advanced by them and which aim to insure the existence, the honor, and the free development of their peoples would be suitable to serve as a basis for the reëstablishment of a durable peace.

If in spite of this offer of peace and conciliation the struggle should continue, the four Allied Powers are determined to prosecute it to a victorious end and solemnly decline all responsibility before humanity and history.

The Imperial Government has the honor to request the Government of the United States through the kind offices of your excellency to be good enough to transmit the present communication to the British, French, Russian, Italian, Belgian, and Servian Governments.

No. 184.]

[Signed.]

Chargé Warfield to the Secretary of State.

HALIL. ELKUS.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Sofia, December 15, 1916.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy and translation of a note verbale handed to me in person by the Prime Minister at noon on December 12. At his request I communicated the main point of this note by a telegram, copy of which is inclosed, stating that

the Prime Minister, while pointing out the strong position of the Central Powers, proposes to enter into negotiations for peace.

At the same time Dr. Radoslavoff handed me an indentical note with the request that it be forwarded to London. Copies have therefore been sent to the London Embassy.

I have, etc.,

WILLIAM WARFIELD.

No. 1568.]

[Inclosure-Translation.]

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The most formidable war known to history has been ravaging for two years and a half a great part of the world. This catastrophe which the bonds of a common civilization more than a thousand years old are unable to arrest, strikes humanity's most precious inheritance; it threatens to entomb in its ruins the moral and material progress upon which Europe prided herself at the dawn of the twentieth century.

In this struggle Bulgaria and her allies, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey, have proved their indestructible power, by winning notable successes against adversaries superior in number and materials of war. Their impregnable lines withstand the unceasing attacks of the armies of their enemies. The recent diversions in the Balkans have been rapidly and victoriously thwarted. The recent events have shown that the continuation of the war will not break their power of resistance. The general situation rather gives them reason to hope for new successes.

The four Allied Powers were compelled to arm to defend their existence and the liberty of their national development. The deeds of their armies have varied in no particular. Not one single instant have they departed from the conviction that respect for the rights of other nations is not in any way incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests. They do not seek to crush or to annihilate their adversaries.

Conscious of their economic and military power, and ready, if it is necessary, to continue to the end the struggle which is imposed upon them, but inspired at the same time by a desire to stem the streams of blood, and to put an end to the horrors of war, the four Allied Powers proposed to enter, forthwith, into negotations for peace. They are convinced that the proposals which they will bring forward, and which will aspire to assure the existence, the honor, and the free development of their people, will suffice to serve as a foundation for the restoration of a lasting peace.

If, in spite of this offer of peace and conciliation, the struggle must continue, the four Allied Powers are determined to conduct it to a victorious end, while declining solemnly all responsibility before humanity and history.

The Royal Government of Bulgaria has the honor to request Mr. le Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America to kindly transmit the present communication to his Government.

SOFIA, December 12, 1916.

SIR: Adverting to my telegram No. 1573 of the 12th instant, I have the honor to inclose herewith for the information of the Department duplicate copies and translations of note No. 5915, dated December 12, 1916, from the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which the Central Powers state that they are ready to enter into negotiations for peace.

I have, etc.,

FREDERIC COURTLAND PENFIELD.

[Inclosure Translation.]

IMPERIAL AND ROYAL MINISTRY OF THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL HOUSE AND OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

No. 5915.]

MR. AMBASSADOR:

Vienna, December 12, 1916.

The most formidable war that history has known has for two and a half years ravaged a large part of the world. This catastrophe, which the bands of a common civilization more than a thousand years old could not prevent, strikes humanity in its most precious possessions; it threatens to bury under its ruins the moral and material progress of which Europe was so proud at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In this struggle Austria-Hungary and its allies, Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey, have proved their indestructible strength and have achieved considerable successes against adversaries who are superior