Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-12-28
SEES j. s. WAR PERIL
SECRETARY LANSING HINTS OF
DANGER, BUT QUALITIES AN
NoUNcEMENT LATER.
ADMITS NO CHANGE IN POLICY
Presidents Aid Declares peace Plea"
is Not to Pacify Europe, But to
Find Out Where America
Stands.

Washington, Dec. %. - Secretary
| Lansing issued statement on Thurs
| day simplifying and qualifying the one
he made earlier in the day regarding
the presidents notes TO the belliger-
ents because, he said, he feared some
incorrect differences were being drawn
from his first utterance.
Secretary Lansing said his purpose
in making the second statement was
to make it clear beyond question that
there was no change in the policy of
neutrality of the United States.
Mr.. Lansing also said his purpose in
simplifying his statement was to make
it plain that the notes to the belliger-
ents should in no sense be construed
as a threat to any of the governments.
His second statement follows:
81 have learned from several quar-
ters that a wrong impression was made
by the statement which | made IN the
morning and | wish to correct that inn
preston
MY intention was 10 suggest the
very direct ana necessary interest
! which this country ms one of the neu-
| tral nations has in the possible terms
which the belligerents may have in
mind, and | did not intend to intimate
that the government was considering
any change in its policy Of neutrality
which it has consistently pursued in
the face of constantly increasing diff
culties.
II regret that my words We're open
to any other construction as / now re-
alize that htey were ! think that the
whole tone and language Of the note
to the beligerentS shows the purposes
without further comment ON my part.
1t Is needless to say that | am unre-
servedly in support Of that purpose
and hope To see Il accepted
Secretary Lunslng'S statement was
as follows:
"The reasons for the sending Of the
note were as follows:
ut isn't our material interest we had
in mind when the note was sent, but
more and more our own rights are be-
coming involved by the belligerents on
both sides, so that the situation is be-
coming increasingly critical.
81 mean by that, that we are draw
ing nearer the verge of war ourselves
and therefore we are entitled to know
exactly what each bellgerent seeks in
order that we may regulate our con-
duet in the future.
consideration of the German overtures
or of the speech Of Lloyd-George was
taken into account In the formulation
of the document The only thing the
oyertures did was to delay it few
days II was not decided to send it
until Monday or course the difficult
ties that face the president were that
II might be construed as Il movement
toward peace and In aid of the Ger
man oycrtures. lie specifically denies
that that was The fact in the document
itself"
Secretary Lansing further said:
"The sending Of this note will indi-
cate the possibility of our being forced
into the war; Tint possibility ought
to serve as Il restraining and SOLDERING
force safeguarding American rights. It
may also serve TO force an eurler con
cJuSiou of the war. Neither the preSi-
dent nor myself regard this note as n
peace note; It is merely an effort 70
get the helligercuts To define the end
for which they are lighting