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German note to neutrals proposes peace negotiations

BERLIN, via Sayville Wireless, Dec. 12, 1916 (UP) -- Proposals by the central powers that peace negotiations be entered into forthwith were made in notes handed to representatives of neutral countries which are representing Germany in belligerent nations today.

Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg called the diplomatic representatives of the United States, Spain and Switzerland to his office, one after the other and handed this note to them.

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The full text of the note was to be read in the reichstag today.

The chancellor asked the neutral nations which represent Germany and her allied powers at the capitals of the nations with which she is at war, to bring these proposals to the attention of Germany's enemies.

The propositions which Germany advances in these negotiations are, according to Germany's belief, appropriate for the establishment of lasting peace.

The governments at Vienna, Constantinople and Sofia transmitted identical notes.

The text also was communicated to the vatican at Rome and to all other neutral powers.

The exact text of the first announcement of Germany's intention, as wirelessed by the official press bureau today to neutral countries, was as follows:

"The chancellor this morning received one after the other, representatives of the United States of America, Spain and Switzerland-that is, of the states protecting German interests in hostile foreign countries.

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"The chancellor transmitted to them a note and asked them to bring it to the knowledge of the hostile governments.

"The note will be read, complete, today in the reichstag, by the chancellor.

"In the note the four allied powers propose to enter forthwith into peace negotiations.

"The propositions which they bring for such negotiations are, according to their belief, appropriate for establishing lasting peace.

"The governments of Vienna, Constantinople and Sofia transmitted similar notes.

"The text was also communicated to the Holy See and to all other powers."

By handing the note to representatives of the United States, Spain Switzerland, German really transmitted it directly to her enemy nations.

Under existing conditions this is the only possible course of diplomatic interchange between the central powers and the entente allies.

The procedure in transmission of Germany's peace proposals will be identical in the case of all the neutral powers whose aid is invoked.

The diplomatic representatives of America, Spain and Switzerland will forward the note handed them by Bethmann-Hollweg to their respective capitals.

The foreign offices, or state departments, of these neutral nations will then transmit the text to the American, Spanish and Swiss ambassadors or ministers at the capitals of the entente allies.

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These ambassadors will, in turn, formally deliver the note to the governments of the entente nations.

The same procedure will be followed in the case of formal replies to the peace propositions.

England, for instance, probably will give to the American ambassador, the Spanish ambassador and the Swiss minister, identical notes detailing their response to Germany's proposals.

These will be transmitted to the capitals of the United States, Switzerland and Spain and thru diplomatic channels, formally handed to Germany thru the agency of the American, Swiss and Spanish diplomatic representatives in Berlin.

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