The president accepted the German conditions generally, but made it clear in his reply that the conditions could not depend upon any negotiations between this country and other belligerents.

The intimation was plain enough that the United States would not be a catspaw for German aims.
Up to this time in the year 1916 the advantage in arms had been greatly on the side of Germany and her allies.

In January the British had evacuated the entire Gallipoli peninsula and the campaign in Turkey soon came to grief.

Cettinje, the capital of Montenegro, had also fallen to the Teutonic allies, and that country practically was put out of the war.
The British had made important gains in the German colonies in Africa and had conquered most of the Kamerun section there.

Between February and July the Germans had been battling at the important French position of Verdun, with great losses and small results.