The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-12-27

the issuance of statement by Secre-
tary of State Lansing in which he
made it plain that the growing en-
croachment on the rights of the
United States by all Of the belliger-
ents was bringing the United States
closer and closer to forced participa-
tion in the war and that the presi-
ture of self-defense, report indus
triously was circulated by persons
close to the entente embassies and
very few correspondents that the
Lansing statement was in effect a
yelled threat to Germany. This re-
port gained in strength as it was
spread to such an extent that it
caused real annoyance both at the
white house and the State Depart
ment. \
Mr.. Lansing finally conferred with
the president and isued statement
in which he made it emphatically
plain that he had never intended to
be understood as indicating any
change in policy or neutrality by the
United States. What he had done,
he said, was to show the very direct
and necessary interest the United
States had in the possible terms
which the belligerents may have in
mind.
Because Of the issuance of the two
statements reports were set on foot
of friction between the president and
his chief adviser. These were declar-
ed by everyone in position to know
the facts to be absolutely unwarrant-
ed. Mr.. Lansing, it was explained,
not only was in complete acord with
the president in the drafting and
sending of the note, but he person
ally suggested certain changes in the
original draft which materially
strengthened it.
Lansing's Statement.
The original statement, 'as issued
by Secretary Lansing, was as fol-
lows:
"It was not so much our material
interests htat we considered when the
note was prepared and sent but the
fact that more and more our rights
have been infringed and involved by
the belligerents on both sides" The
situation had become intolerable to
such an extent that it was becoming
increasingly critical. l mean by that
that we are drawing nearer the vergs
of the war ourselves and we are,
therefore, entitled to know exactly
what each belligerent seeks in order
that we can regulate our conduct in
the future.
"No warning nation had previously
been sounded by President Wilson in
preparing this not. There was
neither consideration of the German
overtures or the speech of Premier
Lloyd-George in the formulation of
the communication. The only thing
that the German overtures did was
to force the withholding of the COM
munication for few days although
the president did not definitely and
finally make up his mind to send it
forward until last Monday.
"Of course one difficulty that faced
the president was the fact that the
not might be constructed as a move
ment for peace and on the side of the
German ovcrturcs. To prevent this
he specifically disavowed this in the
communication itself.
"Sending of this note will indicate
that we realize the possibility of our
being forced into the war. Neither
the president nor myself regards this
note as peace note; it simply is an
effort to get the bclligercnts to de-
fine the aims for which they are
fighting"
The secretary was asked whether
he believed that the sending of the
note will make for speedlicr end
ing of the war He said:
ut is possible that it may not but
it will Indicate that there is posi-
bility Of our being forced into the
war and if this government were
forced into the war on one side or
viz ''iSi' IL "ouid prove potent
factor otward ending the war. This
possibility ought to serve as a re-
Straining ard SOLDERING force and
safeguard American interests"
Following his conference with
President Wilson the secretary then
issued the following additional state
ment:
81 have learned from several quar-
tcrs that wrong impression was
made hu thn ctntnn,nnt ILL I ...-l