The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-27
IS NOT THREAT OF WAR:
WILSON'S PEACE NOTE DOES MOI
.PORTEND ENTRANCE OF
UNITED STATES
INTO FIGHT.
Explanation of First Statement Givc$
out BY Secretary Lansing Says TlAa!
Note is Result of Critical Positiy&
OF American Relations With Solu5
OF Belligerents. 4

VI w
Washington, Dec. 21.-Preside(
Wilson's note to the belligerents ur
ing discussion of peace was oficiaifl
interpreted today as not bearing all
threat that the United States miu5[
be forced to enter the war because
the continued invasion Of it's rightsI
the warning powers on both sides.
This Interpretation was made Id
today by Secretary Lansing in
formal statement issued to overta&4
what were characterized as wid(
spread misconstructions placed q
one made earker in the day sayit'
that because of the increasingly crt&S
cal position of the United States al
neutral. it was entitled to know exa3
ly what each beligerent seeks In
der that it might regulate it's COMB
for the future.
Secretary Lansing's final statem6l
formally prepared end issued afters
had been called to the White Hon
for q conference with President a.
son, declared that he did not int
to intimate that the United States n
considering any change in It's %
of neutrality and that the whole
and language of the note were
ncient to indicate it's purnose witt
further comment on his part.
Mr.. Lansing's first statement, ~
orally, Of which no official copx8
distributed, led to exaggerations G.
language and purpose throughoJt0S
fetal Washington. It's most stf5
phrases. on which the widest 35S
lation was based. were that thu
ted States was drawing neareS3
verge Of war and that the. sendt3
the note will indicate the pos
of our being forced into the wa
that neither he nor President
regarded the note "as a peace
Secretary landings.
The sreasii1s Tor the sanding 5
the notes were as follows: \
1T Isn't our material interest v,
had In mind when the note was sen
but more and more our own right
are becoming involved by the bellig
erents on both sides so that the sit
uation Is becoming increasingly criti
cal. 81
Il mean by that, that we are draw
Ing nearer the verge of war ourselvo
and therefore we are entitled to know
exactly what each belligerent seek
in order that we may regulate GU
conduct in the future.
mo nation had been sounded. ",
consideration Of the German over
lures or of the speech of Lloyd
George was taken into account IL
the formulation Of the document. Tn,
only thing the overtures did was t,
delay to send it until Monday. o
course the difficulties that face tn,
president We're that it might DO con
strued as a movement toward peac,
and in aid Of the German overturcs
He specifically denies that that wa
the fact in the document ITSELF"
Secretary Lansing also said: 9TH,
sending of this note will indicate tn,
possibility of our being forced int,
the war. The possibility ought t,
serve as a restraining and soberini
force safeguarding American rights
1t may also serve to force an earliel
conclusion of the war. Neither tn,
president 20 myself regard this mote
as a peace note; it is merely an effor
to get the belligerents to define tn,
end for which they are fighting"
When word of what the secretar,
had said spread throughout the cap,
ital 1t created the greatest consterna
ton in official circles and among tn,
foreign diplomats. many of whom
were calling at the state department
to receive their copies Of the note dis
patched to their capitals.
1t became apparent that the state.
ment was not fully approved at the
White House and that there was ques.
ton as to the wisdom of making an
comment that might be regarded a.
an addition to the note. The White
House was concerned lest any word
reach the foreign capitals to be con-
strued as indicating that the Ameri-
can note was anything but what it in.
dicated on its face. So, after a con-
ference between President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing, the second state
manf y.or cprppolr ,.l A.,