Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-22
notes ARE sent
BECAUSE j. 5. IS
AT verge OF WAR
Lansing Says Violations Of the
Rights of Americans by the
Belligerent Nations
Are Serious.
ASKS WHAT EACH SEEKS
Information Wanted So U. s.
May Regulate Its Conduct
Accordingly.
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY

Washington. Dec. 2l.--Thc danger
OF the United States itself being
drawn into the war. by reason Of its
increasingly critical position as a ncu-
tral, was one OF the moving consider
ations in President Wilson's dispatch
OF notes to all the belligerents urging
them to discuss peace terms ..
Secretary Lansing today authorized
the statement that the material rights
OF the United States had not been
the paramount consideration, Amer
ica's rights. he said, we're being more
and more involved by the belligerents
and as the United States was draw
ing nearer the verge of war is was
entitled to know exactly what each
beligerent seeks in order that we
may regulate our conduct in the fu-
ture."
Mr.. Lansing's Statement. -
Secretary Lansing's statement upon
which the White House refused to
comment follows:
1T isn't our material interest we
had in mind when the note was sent,
but more and more our own rights
are becoming involved ~ the bellig
erents on both sides so that the situa-
ton is becoming increasingly critical.
Il mean by that that we are draw
ing 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 over
lures or OF the speech of Lloyd
George was taken into account in
the formulation of the document The
only thing the overtures did was TO
delay it few days. 1t was not
decided to send it until Monday or
course. the difficulties that faces the
president were that it might be con
strued as a movement toward peace
and in aid of the German overtures.
He specifically denies that that was
the fact in the document ITSELF
May Have Soldering Effect.
Secretary Lansing further said;
THE sending OF this note will in
dicatc the, possibility OF our being
forced into the war. That possibil-
ity ought to serve as a restraining
and SOLDERING force safeguarding
American rights. 1t may also serve
to force an earlier conclusion of the
war. Neither the president nor my
self regard this note as a peace note;
it is merely an effort to get the bel
ligcrents to define the end for which
they are fighting"
At the White House no effort was
made to lessen the importance Of Sec
rctary Lansing's statement. Presi-
sdent Wilson would make no comment.
President Wilson himself on sew
eral occasions has pointed out the
danger of the United States becoming
involved in the war. Because Of vio-
lations of American rights he has felt.
that the United States had difficult
role to fill.
Last February while touring the
middle west in favor Of preparedness
and again during the last campaign,
inc preSlucnt lOuCHeu OH tHdt iSd-
ture.
Notes Sent Monday.
The presidents notes had been
practically forty-eight hours on their
way today, and officials believed they
had reached all the foreign capitals.
All official Washington is listening
with the kcenest expectations to any
indications Of how the notes will be
received t..
Diplomatists think it is incredible
that President Wilson should have
taken his action without some belief
that it would not be fatty rejected
without consideration BY the entente
allies. The wish and hope of the
German allies that he take some such
step had lolg been well known, and
there is no doubt of the manner of
its reception among them.
United States Affected.
Officials and diplomatists here
analyzing The presidents note find
something deeper than an appeal for
consideration OF peace terms. They
see that the president in acting was