e successful, there would be
a resumption of the indiscriminate submarine campaign. The curious
developments of the next two months are now a familiar story. Possibly
because the British Government had notified him, through Page, that his
proffer of mediation would be unacceptable, Mr. Wilson moved cautiously
and slowly, and Germany became impatient. The successful campaign
against Rumania, resulting in the capture of Bucharest on December 6th,
and the new vista which it opened to Germany of large food supplies,
strengthened the Teutonic purpose. Perhaps Germany, with her
characteristic lack of finesse, imagined that her own open efforts would
lend emphasis to Mr. Wilson's pacific exertions. At any rate, on
December 12th, just as Mr. Wilson was preparing to launch his own
campaign for mediation, Germany herself approached her enemies with a
proposal for a peace conference. A few days afterward Page, as the
representative of Germany, called at the Foreign Office to deliver the
large white envelope which contained the Kaiser's "peace proposal." In
delivering this to Lord Robert Cecil, who was acting as Foreign
Secretary in the temporary absence of Mr. Balfour, Page emphasized the
fact that the American Government entirely disassociated itself from its
contents and that he was acting merely in his capacity of "German
Ambassador." Two communications from Lord Robert to Sir Cecil Spring
Rice, British Ambassador at Washington, tell the story and also reveal
that it was almost impossible for Page, even when engaged in an official
proceeding, to conceal his contempt for the whole enterprise:

_Lord R. Cecil to Sir C. Spring Rice_

Foreign Office,

December 18, 1916.

SIR:

The American Ambassador came to see me this morning and presented
to me the German note containing what is called in it the "offer of
peace." He explained that he did so on instructions of his
Government as representing the German Government, and not in any
way as representing their own opinions. He also explained that the
note must be regarded as coming from the four Central Powers, and
as being addressed to all the Entente Powers who were represented
by the United States.

He then read to me a telegram from his Government, but declined to
leave me a copy of it. The first part of the telegram explained
that the Government of the United States would deeply appreciate a
con