The sun., 1916-12-22
The Note ana lie Pestseripts.

TELEPHONE. DEnKMAS s3ee.
The Note ana lie P~estseSiDts.
Secretary LANsISa's successive ex-
plantations Of the Presidents note to
the %belligerents ought not to have
been necessary. The purpose Of the
communication should have been ap-
parent In the document itself.
The note itself was followed by
the semi-oficial explanation that 1t
had no connection With the recent
German Overturcs and had been con.
templated and substantially framed at
least three weeks agO. This interval
Of priority Of conception grew to six
weeks in the later semi-Oflcial state
ments Of yesterday afternoon. The
attempt to %linerentiate was mani.
testify an afterthought, inspired by
the reports Of more or less enthusiasts
tic approval Of the Presidents nov
expressed by people In aud around
the German Embassy. This explana-
tion Is unfortunate; for 1t IL a fact
that while such a step In the direc-
ton OF peace would have been so
inopportunc six weeks or even three
weeks ago as to have been regarded
by the Allies rs Obtrusive. events
and the change in the moral situa-
tion have moved so rapidly since then
- to make the present eem the
psychologist moment for the proper
exercise Of neutral influence.
Then came the amazing declaration
from the Department Of State that
the note was not q pence note but
the Administration had been moved
to utterance because the situation for
neutrals was becoming increasingly
critical and this nation was being
drawn rapidly toward the verge Of
war. The effect OF Mr.. LASsiNG's
first explanation was immediate and
deblorable In Its stimulus to public
apprehension and Its widespread de-
%structiOn of values.
Therefore a few hours later In the
day We had from Mr.. LANSING a Sec
ond explanation explaining his first
explanation Of the Presidents note.
The Secretary In his second or sup
Elemental explanation deplOred the
fact that his first explanation led
been subjected to various cOnstruc-
lions he had not meant to convey.
He declared that the United States
was not considering any change In Its
policy Of neutrality; and he added
the statement that 1t might he neces.
sary to send TO the belllgcrent Powers
a supplementary communication ex-
planning that nothing bellicosc was
intended In the statement of the origi-
nal note that the Invasion Of neutral
rights was making tho situation "in'
tOlerable" in this country.
What further explanations Of ex.
plantations may be put forth before
this paper reaches its readers we can.
not undertake to predict. We are
surf however. that In all the archives
Of diplomatic correspondence there
cannot be found a more extraordinary
ana bemuddling process.
The sequence would be ludlcrous IN
the extreme II the interests involved
were not so tremendous.
For its part The Sun Ia content tG
allow the original note to speak fol
itself without regard to the subse
quent explanations and explanations
Of explanations. We commend tn,
main intent Of the President to EN-
phasize and accelerate the obviou,
tendency Of the present situation
toward the consideration OF termi
which may result In a satisfactory
and lasting peace. We believe tina
in choosing this time for such initia
tive as is within his power lie hal
chosen we'll. We are glad to stant
with him In his proposals, barrini
that which seems to indicate a will
ingness to abandon the trsditiOna
American policy.
We hold that every effort Is wei
timed and laudable that helps Il
bring to the knowledge Of the grea
mass Of the German people the nc
tual truth about the situation an,
the prospects Of the ps~uedo-nationa
cause for which they have made sucl
fearful sacrifices; truth evidentl,
already patent to the German
higher up.
Let there he light In Germany an,
there may be a peace on terms honor
able to Germany because they ar
lust to the innocent victims of aS
gression and right to the vision q
TIE worlds moral sense.
The Bey's Last Chance for Adveu