University of Oregon y
Mebforb Mail Tribune
FORECAST
Tonight iiml Wi-diii'siliiy,
. ruin.
WEATHER
Maximum yesterday, tit;
Minimum totuiy, iiO.
Forty-sixth Year.
I'nlly movent h Yar.
MEDFOKD, 01?E(iONT. Tl'KSDAV, WW KM WM 12. 19H.
NO. 12.")
GERMANY AND ALLIES. PROPOSE PEACE
PROPOSALS LONDON MOST RESTORATION OF GERMAN REPLY PEACE OFFER
1 Tn I FN 1A AR PESSIMISTIC O'ER STATUS QUO ON Wj ' DEFENDS ORDER m ITI N n RV
q RMinpn ' jmm nuANRF OR
UUUIIIII I L li German Note Regarded as a Dramatic Unofficially Reported That Germany hy J2& 2 i Situation in Belgium Demanded Some U I I III 1 U LLLU II
F(ilr Central Powers Offer to Enter
eace Negotiations With Hostile
: Powers to Secure Lasting Peace
Which Will Guarantee Existence,
- Honor and Liberty of Evolution as
an Appropriate Basis Terms Of
fered Not Made Known.
UERMX, Dcp. li. Gi-riiiiiiiy and
her allies today mipusi'd to vuirv
forthwith into pence neirntinlions.
The Austrian, Turkish mid Iului'-
inn governments are making .similar
proposals. These proposals also
have been transmitted to the Vatican.
The following announcement wan
given out today by the semi-of ficia!
Overseas Xews agency:
Chancellor lli-cults Xews
" "The chancellor this murnin re
ceived one after another the repro
senntives of the United States of Am
erica and Spain and Switzerland, thatt
is, of the states protecting German
interests in hostile foreign countries.
The chancellor transmitted to th?m
a note and asked them to lirmic it to
the knowledge of the hostile povera-
nicntH, . The note will lie read today
m the reiehstafr by the chancellor.
"In the note the four allied (ecn
tral) powers propose lo enter forth
with on peace ncfrotinlions. The prop
ositions which they brinjr for such
negotiations are. according to their
firm belief appropriate for the estab-
lishmcnt of a laslinu: peace.
"The governments at Vienna, Con- '! hardly prepared them for an ac
slnntinople and Sofia Ir.insmillcd f'"' offer of peace and tho utmost
identical noles and also eomiimnicat- " riosity was .to-played as to the (le-
f.fvtl with the Holy See and all neutral i
i powers."
I The propositions which .thev will
il jViiiR forward nre, neeordiiig to I
jjjthnnecllor Von llethmann-Ilolhvc-.
appropriate for the establishment iI,i'h ot-immieiy uu net- eunimua,
a lasting peace. ,Mlt so far all the entente nations
I have reiterated their intention to ad-
Gcrmaiiy's 1'i-oiiosal. I here to their agreement made early
IIKHI.IN, Dec. 12.-Kolluwins is
the te.t of the nole addrcssctl by
Gennanv and her allies to llie hostile
govcnmirnts :
' 'In the miflt of (Ik imw terrific
war ever oxpericitcod in h itury, rnir
iiif? for the last two yc;irs himI n hull'
over a nrie part of. the worltia
cntnstropiic whi'li tlituisatuls of veins
of civilization wns untibU- to prevent.
and which injures the mot precious (
aehifvements of humanity, our anus
arc not to shatter nor annihilate our
adversaries. In spite of our con
sciousness of our inilitnry and (
nomic stronpth and our readiness to
continue the war, which we lind forc
ed'pon us) to tlic hitter end if nec
essary; at the same time, prompted
by the desire to avoid further blood
shed and make an end tc. the alroci-
(Continued on Pago Eight.)
PAY MEXICAN
Ql ERETARO, Dec. 12. A decree
1 made public today provides that the
salaries of all employes shall be on
the basis of Mexican gold at the rate
Paid, according to the employment in
1912. This modifies the October de
cree, a modification considered neces
sary on account of the economic situ
ation and for the protection of the
working classes. Another decree
fixes the assessments on all cattle
B over one year of age at seventy pesos
Ll Mexican gold and on rubber produc
P lug plants at 10 cents Mexican gold,
a o kiln Thia r)APrr.A lnli iffo,t 1 li-
cember 15.
It Is understood that the cabinet
has decided to leave to each minister
Jfl e task of framing decrees in bis de
partment for the purpose of relieving
the economic situation.
German Note Regarded as a Dramatic
Coup Creating Interesting Devel
opments but Skepticism Concerning
Proposed Terms as Offering Even
Basis for Negotiations.
LONDON, Dec. 12. Thi foreign
office today informed the Associated
Press that it is unublo to discuss the
German peace proposal until the
terms have been received. Meauwhib
the attitude of the British toward the
proposition remains as frequently
enunciated by the government.
A general note of pessimism pre
vr.l's in London. One prominent of
ficial expresses himself to the As
sociated Press today as bams very
sceptical that the proposed terms
would offer even a basis for uegotla
tUn. ' ..
This offieiul said, however, that the
rote was a dramatic coup which
v ould create Interesting dtvo..T
iruits in the .-.iploniatic situation and
provide the first of the peace over
tures of the war.
Foi-eiiri Offices Upset.
The offer 51.us the foreign effice
in the midst of a change of cabinet.
Although r. Is still a matter of
n ere speculation, diplomats believe
:ii modus ape'i'indl would follow the
precedent set by the negotiations,
which ended io Spanisn-Amerioan
war, when Vvuice presenter ihe
Spanish offer through Jules Cainbon,
I he French ambassador at WaEhliiijt
ti n. No actlJii could be tuVcn, v4
course, without 'Ull consultit n'l wltli
Creat Britain'? allies. Much specti-
1
i''
tion in officii-.! circles as to t)v; pos
sible action of the relchsta? today
t:'ils of the proposed terms.
Offer Expected. '
It has been generally acknowledged
in entente circles that efforts would
ho made by Germany to conclude
iu the war not to make a separate
1 eaee. The recent death of the Aus
trian emperor, Francis Joseph, and
the succession of King Charles to
the throne of the dual monarch) also
was discussed as one of the con
siderations which might have been a
factor in bringing out peace propo
sals at this time.
NKW YOIIK, Dee. 12. The stock
niarlict became immediately unset
tled today on the receipt of the news
ot the Teutonic peace proposals. Mu
nitions nqd shares of other companies
uhich hav prottrcd by the war were
most affected, licthlehem steel drop
pin;: points.
1'nited States steel fell three points
anil other prominent industrials yield
I'd as much.
I lailni" became feverishly active
on the decline and urgent liquidation
was evident. Selling- embraced prac
tically every issue in that class of
specialties which have been strongest
anil most active recently.
With the market demoralized in the
:t-t hour the activity was so jjrent
that it brought the total transactions
ol the day up to more than 2,-"'IMI.00(i
shares, wbi'-h is a record for inanv
.if-.
I I'
s in the last hour sold from
2 to .", points under those of the early
nttcinvon. The pressure was so yreat
that the tidier was J."i to 20 minutes
behind -ales.
NKW ViiKIC. Pee. 12.- The an
no Miccicufit of German pence pro
Mi-.'iN served to stop the decline of
Itic cotl-in market here thi iniH'uinu.
Unofficially Reported That Germany
Will Yield Belgium and France for
Return of Colonies, Poland to be
Independent, Balkans Fate Up to
Conference. ,
WASHINGTON', Dec. 12. Advices
from Ilerlin to the Geiman embassy
indicate that Germany's peace terms,
in general propose the restoration of
the status quo before the war with
the exception of the establishment of
independent kingdoms of Poland and
Lithunia.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. News
that Germany and her allies were
about to enter on peace negotiations
was immediately sent to President
Wilson. Speukinjr for the president,
Secretary Tumulty said he was deep
ly interested but could niakc no com
ment, at least until it , was learned
what reception the proposal received
from the entente allies.
The state department received its
first information of Gominny's pro
posal through the Associated I'ress
dispatches from which officials as
sumed that the office of the neu
trals addressed are asked only lo
triiHsmit the. proposals. This will be
done so far iis the United Stales is
oncerued, promptly on receipt of (he
official dispatches in Washington.
They will he forwarded to all the en
tente countries where the V'nited
States represents the central powers
diplomatically.
Proposed Terms.
Whether the Vniled States would
accompany the transmission with
any comment or suggestion, it was
indicated, depends entirely upon the
nature of the proposal and whether
it .is considered likely of considera
tion. If the offer is deemed one on
which ull sides might negotiate, the
United States would urge that it be
tuken up.
They are understood to propose
he complete restoration of the oe-
euptrd portions of llelgium and
France m return lor Germany s cap
tured colonies and to dispose of the
Balkan situation because of its ex
tremely complicated nature, in the
peace conference.
Cams ns Surprise.
The foreign embassies and lega
tions received their first information
of the event through Associated I'ress
di-patc.hes. On every hand the dis
cussion turned to what had moved
Gennanv and her allies to make the
proposals at this time. Although for
many weeks there have been persist
ent and officially denied reports that
some peace proposal was about to be
made bv President Wilson there was
no open indication that the central
powers themselves were about to
make one. Generally the announce
incnt came as a distinct surprise
throughout official diplomatic cir
cles. Prevailing opinion was that the
Germanic allies hnd brought out their
peace offer at this time with the ex
pectation of making terms which
might be acceptable to the allies ot
England and in effect might possibly
cause the Itritish government to yield
to the pressure of tbe nations fight
ing with her. In this connection,
the recent crisis in Russia, in which
the dumn interfered to prevent the
negotiations of a separate peace with
Germany, was recalled as an indica
tion of what the German foreign of
fice might be looking forward to in
peace negotiations.
JOHN M'VICKER. VETERAN
DETROIT EDITOR. DEAD
CHICAGO, Dec. 12. John MV
Yieker. 71 years old. once president
of the International Typographical
union and foimcrlv editor of the De
troit New-, died here yesterday. He
came here from Itetroit a few weeks
alio for nn operation, from which he
never rallied.
! ?5VI - .
German Chancellor P
FOR SPEAKER BY
IE!
The sentiment of the representa
tives of Southern Oregon, as ex
pressed Monday at the meeting held
at Grants Pass when representa
tives of Jackson, Josephine and
Douglas counties met In public and
private conference, is unaimous for
tho support of L. K. Bean of Eu
gene for speaker of tiio house of
representatives. .Mr. Dean, the rep
resentatives believe. will better
serve the interests of Southern Ore
gon than the other candidate, R. N.
Stanfield of Pendleton, in-as-miicb
as Bean resides closer to this sec
'tion and is more conversant with the
desires and needs of Southern Ore
gon. ' Dr. J. C. Smith, senator from
Josephine county, expressed the
opinion at the meeting that the elec
tion of Gus Mosier as president of
the senate Is assured. No statement
was made as to who would be sup
ported but it was considered at the
meeting that Smith's remarks Indi
cated his support of Mosier.
Unite Southern Oregon.
The meeting was held for the pur
pose of welding the Southern Ore
gon delegation Into a solid voting
unit. In the past the votes from
this section have been more or less
split, but it is the opinion of C. M.
Thomas, representative from Jack
eon county, that t lie meeting, by
bringing about better acquaintance
and an understanding of what the
different men are working for, will
have the desired effect of bringing
about unity.
Those attending the meeting were.
representatives, C. M. Thomas, Hen
(Continued on Page Six.)
GIVEN BY HIMSELF
4
'.KHUN", l-J.Ap ofti- 4
inl HliUnuiH'cint'iil i.-.ued hen
today says thai Field M.tr- 4
!hal Von Hindenbuijf, its the
oldest ai'tivp ire n era I of the 4
I'lnMjtn iirmy. ha- nmde a 4
request of the emperor 1 1 1 ; t
he himself weiir llie finind
I'io-h of the Iron Cros.
The emperor h.is accepted,
BEAN ENDORSED . REPORT GERMANS
DEL THEOBALD
EETiWiNN-HDLLXVEa
roposes Peace Terms
A
LONDON. Dec 12. A itonie dis
pnteh to the Wireless Press savs that
Petrograd reports the Germans have
begun the retirement 4if some of their
divisions from Rumania, transferrin
them to oilier fronts, and that the sit
uaiion in Itumania is hecomuig more
favorable for the entente.
HKIU.IN, Dec. 12. Heavy allacl
by the Hussians in the wooded Cur
paunaus ami along llie .Moldavian
frontier of Hmuania were renewe
yesterday, says today's war offii
pulsed. The town of Xizil, on the
railway between Ploetchti and 1 1 it
zcu, lias been captured by the An
tio-Geinian forces. I'rzinceni also
has been occupied.
lu the field of war, the Teutonic
advance In eastern W'nllaclua is con
tinning with the liumauiaiis nppar
ently seeking to take up a dcl'cnsiv
line along llie Itu.cu river near th
southern boiindai-v of Ihcir northern
province of Moldavia. Petrograd rr
polls the failure ol' Teutonic attack
alone; the .Moldavian frontier and in
cerlain Wallachian sectors, notabl
northeast of Ploechti, where the Ails
) tro-Gcrman for
es arc prc
-in;
to
wards the P.nzeu
New activity has been developed l
the Germans on the Franco-Ilelgian
front. They attacked last evenin
on the edge of Dcs Kocs wood, south
of the Sontme sector, hut according
to Palis, were checked and driven out
of portions of a'dvanerd position
which they hud occupied.
F
E
;e
PA IMS. Dec 12. Dermlv Geo
Boniiffiis has introduced a bill
for
the creation of a parliamentary com
mitlee for national defence which will
continue for the durati"U of the war.
This eouitnitlce would eni-Ut of thir
ty delegate- elected bv
depot ic J
and l'oit elected by the -enate. The
committee would im'ci weekly to con
sider inlormation i dative to the mil
itary, diplomatic and economic con
duct of the unr a-, commanded by the
government. The chamber and the
senate would hold a brief sc-.iou not
more than once a mouth in hidi to
transact necessary bu-iiie-s and rat
ify the decisions of the committee.
Situation in Belgium Demanded Some
Kind of Work for Belgians Because
Idleness Was Causing Demoraliza
tion Deported Workers Well
Cared For in Germany.
ItKKldN, Dee. l'J. Germany's
answer to the Amcrimu nole reuard-
injur t he deportation of Belgians is
confined almost exclusively to a pres
dilution of the situation in llelgium
before the deportation order heeame
effect ive. The nole declares that
there was urgent need of some kind
of work for the llelj;ians because their
idleness was causing demoralixHtion
and snys that the deported workers
tire assured of well being in new sit -
lint ions in Germany.
The reply volunteers to permit
iVmenenn diplomatic represent ntives
to visit the workmen' camps and as
sure themselves (hat the Heliums are
11 off. It enneludes with an ex
prcssion of regret that the 1'nited
States has never seen fit to protect
against what it describes as the drag
ig off of Gernums from Kast Prus
sin, Alsace and other unices to Si
beria and elsewhere. These actions,
ot which M. licenses the allies, are
characterized in the reply as a se
yere violation of the laws of hinmni-
ii y, ' - .
(.'aim l S. Misinformed
The note declares Unit the (leriniin
:;ovcrniucnt is convinced that th
I'niled Stiitcs litis been misinformed
in regard lo the measures which have
been taken and ways that the hick of
work has increased until l.U.'iO.IMIO
are suffering and an unbearable sit
uation is created. Nothing reiuninedj
therefore, the nole continues, but to
offer the workless sitmilions in Ger
many, since work for nil was not at
hand iu llelgium. II is contended
that the majority of those who have
come lo Geriunuv arc hnppy nnd con
tented, with high wages nnd increas
ed personal liberties and Hint only
those who prefer to lonf have been
compelled lo work.
The answer declares that I lie meas
ure is entirely iu accord with inter
niitionnl law and cites article 4'. of
The Hague convention which requires
an invading government to mniutaiu
order. This, it is mniutnhicd, is pos
sible only in Itclgiiun hy providing
thnt people who nre iible to work shnll
hiive opportunity h do so nnd not
fall ii burden on charity.
The note snys (he nienstrre hns been
carried out with nil possible consider
ation. AliMnkcs, il nsserls. hnve been
due in i ii it lo the fact Hint llclginns
themselves erred in innking up the
lists of tlioM to he trim-ported to
Gennanv by including persons un
nffee,ed by Governor Genera ltis
inn's order of Mnv lillli.
ELEVEN CENTS ON
!E
CHICAGO. Dec. 12. Wheat on the
I Chicago Hon rd of trade on receipt o'
tho news of the proposals for peaco of
Germany and her allies, broke over
eight cents. May wheat ho1;J last
night at $1.75. Within fifteen inln
ii ton after the o)enliiK today, t!ie
price touched $l.if.
The extreme drop wan to $l.iHIa
for the .May delivery, a loss of 8c
an compared with yesterday's flnlnh.
At Oil point buyers took bold with
vigor und a rally to $I.US for May
eiiHiieu. j rading was on a iihk heme.
During the last fifteen minuted of
the session, wheat for May delivery
broke to $l.4, a drop of ll'ic a
bushel In 2 4 hour. December
touched $l.r,;;Vj, a fnll of I 1 Vi .
The close wim wild. 4 to 10,c
nnd'-r yesterdays finish, with May
at $l.ii.1 to $1. anil July at
$1.42 to $1.1.1.
Von Bethmann-Hollweo Informs
Reichstag That Germany and Her
Allies Had Proposed to Hostile
Powers That They Enter Upon
Peace Negotiations Germany Vic
torious ar.d Sure to Win Western
Line Invincible and Opposition Fails
BKHUX, Dee. Chancellor
Von Belhniann-llollweg's sueeeh is
reported by the Overseas News agen
cy as follows :
Chancellor Von Jtethuiaiin-Uollweg
today announced to the rcichstuK that
Germany," together with her allies
''conscious u' their responsibility.be.
lore God, before their own nations,
before humanity," has proposed this
morning to the hostile powers to en
ter on peace negotiations.
Practically all the members of par
liament answered the unexpected
summons. The crowded house and
thronged galleries listened in atten
tive silence when the chancellor rose
for his speech.
Chancellor's Speech, '. ,
if V- ''-it1
Thv chancellor first outlined the
extraordinary political-situation and
then insisting upon the achievements
of the central powers made an an
nouncement which possibly may bo
llie turning point of the war, which
for more than two years bus held
the world under its spell. The chan
cellor said :
''The empire is not a besieged for
tress, as our adversaries imagined.
hut one gigantic and firmlv disciplin
ed cnui with inexhaustible resour
ces. That is llie German empire
which is t irmly and faithfully united
with its brothers in arms, who have
been tested in battle under the Aus-tro-1
liingarinn, Turkish and Bulgar
ian flags. Not confused by nsserva
tions, we progressed with firm decis
ion and we thus continue our pro
gress, always ready to defend our--elves
ami fight for our nation's ex
istence, for its free future nnd al
ways ready lo stretch out our hands
to peace.
Our God IEcsMUisihlttcs
"Our si length has not made our
ears deaf to our responsibility before
God, before our own nation and be-,
lore htiiniinily. The declarations for
merly made by us concerning our
readines-, for peace were evaded by
our adversaries. Now we have ad
vanced "lie step further in this di
rection. (Continued on Page Six.)
ON UNTIL PEACE
LONDON, Dec. A. Central
New di-puich from Amsterdam says
it is announced oflicially in Berlin
that Kmpeior William has notified
hi- i'onunnuding generals of Germany"-,
peace offer and has informed
them it is stilt uncertain whether the
offer will be accepted. I'ntil that un
certainly is ended, the message adds,
they are to fight mi.
The mesMijie is quoted ns follows:
'Soldieis; In agreement with the
sovereigns of my allies and with the
con-cioiisnc-s of victory, 1 have made
an offer of pence to the enemy.
Whether it will be accepted is still
uncertain.
"I ntil that moment arrive. you will
fight on."
Kmperor William's order to his
commanding generals wn addressed
ul-n to "my navy, which in llie com
mon fight lias loyally staked all its
-trength."