File No. 763.72119/254
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.40 p. m.]
5320. Concerning the German proposal to hold a peace conference, responsible men here of course are waiting to see what terms will [Page 93] be proposed. But the undoubted overwhelming feeling in and out of official life is opposed to the acceptance or even to serious consideration of any proposal unless definite and favorable terms are put forward by the German Government. Nobody believes that such terms will be authoritatively put forth. The language and the tone of the proposal are considered insulting because of its boastfulness and its threat. The proposal itself is regarded as an indication of severe economic strain and of greater weakness than the English had suspected. The purposes of it are considered to be to hearten the German people and to affect neutral opinion favorably toward Germany, especially pacifist opinion, and, if possible, to break the solidarity of the Allies. There is also a suggestion of feeling that the German declaration is made to prepare an excuse for further deliberate frightfulness. It is believed here that the Germans are proposing separate secret considerations to such of the Allies as they hope to detach from the others. One instance such as follows:
I have it from a wholly reliable source that Villalobar, Spanish Minister [at] Brussels . . . recently wrote to the Belgian Minister of War at Havre stating that he had been authorized, either by the German Emperor or the German Government in Belgium, to approach the Minister of War with regard to the possibility of peace. He had been empowered to say that if the Belgians would make peace now, Germany would evacuate his country, pay them a full indemnity, and assist in their financial rehabilitation, but that if they refused, the Germans would see to it that when the Belgians recovered control of their country, if they ever did, not one stick would stand upon another in any city or town in Belgium—that every [village?] would be razed to the ground. Under the circumstances Villalobar added that he thought the Belgian Government’s course was clear and that they should consent to peace at once.
The only immediate result expected here of this latest German maneuver is a grimmer renewal of hostilities in France as soon as the weather permits; and the [Allied] military commanders confidently expect success since they will then for the first time have sufficient munitions for indefinite continuous use.
The British Government have bought all the exportable food in the Scandinavian States, Iceland, and Holland, and this purchase will still further lessen the supply that leaks to Germany. The British Government, having an enormous oversupply of fish, is now selling so many Dutch herring in New York that the Canadian maritime provinces have complained to the British Government of this invasion of their market.
For all these complaints, the British Government do not seem likely to give favorable attention to any proposal which would seem to leave the German military power unbroken, especially since the newly formed government here, which was chosen for a more vigorous prosecution of the war, has not had time to try itself at the task.