The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-22
LANSING STATEMENTS
Continued from First Page0

spirit and go as far as possible to-
wards meeting the wishes Of the
United States. No indication was
,, youchsafed, however, as 10 whether
the replies Will be Identical or tndtvi-
dual in form or general or SPECIFIC IN
nature.
Secretary Lansing in calling In the
diplomatic representatives or the pei
ligerents Is understood to have made
i. clear to them individually that the
United States expected the replies or
their governments to be absolutely
frank in all details, The idea was
gathered that the United States was
looking forward to forming itself Into
| clearing house, at least for views
and probably for terms.
Real Purpose Of Action.
The general understanding was that
the purpose Of this explanation was
! to enable the ENJOYS to communicate
| to their own governments the under
! lying purpose Of the Presidents action
at this time.
Further, the opinion prevailed that
the United States expected to be fully
| Informed Of all terms, including those
relating to territory.
It Is felt IN various diplomatic quar-
tiers that while statements regarding
| terms. especially those concerning
| territory might readily be passed along
by the United States, they must not,
Il the negotiations are TO have the
| slightest chance Of success, be COLI
veYed to the public generally. Should
! definite territorial terms be made pub.
lie, it Is feared certain section or
public opinion In the countries affect-
ed would foment additional embar-
easements.
The world diplomatic crisis seemed
temporarily moved to Washington
during the day because OF the Presl-
dents note, Secretary Lansing's COM
ment and the anxiety OF the diplomatic
corps to understand the American, pur-
pose. BY noon all the ranking olplo-
mats from the belligerent countries
had called at the State Department,
p! necessitating for the first time In
months extreme care to prevent meet
ings between representatives from
i hostile states.
The Presidents note was declared
! to-day to be "hit around the whole
circle" without intention Of favoring
or condemnlng either belligerent group
to the prejudice Of the other. Never
, theless, certain facts are cited as IN.
dicating beyond doubt where the chief
| tension lies at present in the relations
of this country as between the TWO
! groups.
Where Tension Lies.
| With the Entente apart from a little
trouble over Count Tarnowski, 1t was
pointed out there has been no pub
| lished diplomatic correspondence FOR
months. This country owes replies on
; both the blacklist and the mail SELF
ures. Trade matters have been very
vexing, but have largely been settled
/ out of court without publicity.
| Towards the Central powers, hoWev'
err and particularly in the past month,
a decided feeling of tension has been
evident in the sending Of about doz'
en- inquiries on submarine sinkings,
followed by publication Of the details
and also by the correspondence on the
[ Belgian deportations.
It became evident that it IS on the
sea It Is feared the country may be
caught between conflicting belligerent
j interests. Lloyd Georges statements
that all British ships will be national,
lied, together with the apparently Off
cial German decision to treat such
| ships as liable TO sinking on sight, has
| led to the growing conviction that 1t
will be essential for the safety of
Americans, both passengers and sail
ors, to lay down some fiat distinctions
as to what are private ships and what
are naval auxlliaries.