Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-22
WILD RUMORS GET AFL0AT
Lansing's S Statements,
Grossly Exaggerated,
Shock the Nation.
SILENCE AT WHITE HOUSE
No Comment on Note or
Developments; Diplo-
mats Are Puzzled.

LONDON, Dec. 2i.-In Berlin diplo-
matte circles, says an EXCHANGE Tclc-
gram dispatch from Amsterdam. il Is
understood that the German emperor
will ut an early date summon to head
quarters the American ambassador.
james ". Gerard. with n view to dis
c,issing with him possible American
mediation and action.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Prcsident
Wilson's note 10 the bclligcrcnts
urging discussion of peace was Off
cialIy interpreted today as not bearing
any threat that the United States
might be forced to enter the war be-
cause Of the continued invasion of its
right, by the warning powers of both
sides.
This Interpretation was made late
today by Secretary Lansing in II
formal statement isucd to overcome
what was characterized n widespread
miscOnstructiOn placed on one given
out earlier in the day saying that be-
cause of the increasingly critical posi-
ton of the United States as "a neutral
IL was entitled To know exactly what
each bclligcrcnt seeks I'm order that II
might regulate its conduct for the
future.
Secretary Lansing'> final statement,
formally prepared and issued after he
had been called to the White House
crr with Bresilent Wil-
son, declared that he had not intended
to intimate that the United States was
considering any change in it, policy of
neutrality and that the whole tone and
language of the note were sufficient
to indicate its purpose without further
comment on his part.
His Meaning Exaggerated.
Mr.. Lansing's first statement made
orally and of which no official copy
was distributed. led to exaggerations
of its language and purpose thruout
official Washington. Its most striking
phrases on which the widest spccula-
tion was based were that the United
States was drawing nearer the verge
of war and that the sending of the
note will indicate the possibility OF
our being forced into the war" and
that neither he nor President Wilson
regarded the note 'as a peace note"
Secretary Lansing's first statement
was as follows:
L;,nsine's statement.
ut is not our material inter-
est we had in mind when the note
was sent: but more and more our
own rights are becoming involved
by the belligerents on both sides,
So that the situation is becoming
increasingly critical.
II mean by that, that we are
drawing nearer the verge of war
ourselves, and. therefore. we are
entitled to know exactly what
each belligcrent seeks in order
that we may regulate our conduct
In the future.
mo nation has been sounded.
No consideration of the German
overtures, or of the speech of
Lloyd George was taken into ac-
count In the formulation of the
document. The only thing the
overtures did was to delay 1t
few days. 1t was not decided to
send it until Monday. or course,
the difficulties that face the
president were that 1t might be
construed as a movement toward
peace and in aid of the German
overtures. He specifically denies
that that was the fact, in the
document itself"
CONSERVATION Follows.
When word of what the secretary OF
state had said spread thruout the cap
ital 1t created the greatest consterna'
ton in official circles and among th'
CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT