The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-12-28
WILSON DENIES
THREAT OF WAR
PRESIDENT MAY SEND BELLIGeR
ENTS ANOTHER NOTE, Ex-
PLANNING HIS ACTION.
PEACE TERMS DESIRED
NOTE NOT DESIGNED TO END
WAR, AND HAS NO BEARING
ON GERMAN ACTION.

Western Newspaper Union news serNics
Washington, Dec 22.-The possibility
that the United States might soon be
drawn into the war in defense of its
rights was the principal consideration
moving President Wilson to address
his peace appeal to the belligerents
asking them to state the conditions on
which they would be willing to end
the conflict
In order to guide the United States
in determining whether it shall enter
the war, the President desires to
know whether there is any prospect of
peace, or only the prospect of con-
tinuation of the struggle with unmiti-
gated aggressions upon American
rights by the belligerents.
The President, however. does not
now contemplate plunging the nation
into the war, although that may be
the eventual result if the war contin-
ues and the belligerents do not cease
their aggressions.
At the same time the President does
not wish the belligerents to conceive
the idea that the United States ut
tered threat to enter the war when
he claimed the right to address the
belligerents lest the situation of neu-
tral nations, now exceedingly hard to
endure. be rendered altogether intol-
erable."
If necessary to disabuse the minds
of the belligerents of any notion that
threat of war is thus conveyed, the
President will send them another note
further explaining his attitude.
The first statement issued by Mr.
Lansing follows:
"The reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows:
"It is not our material interest we
had in mind when the note was sent
but more and more our own rights are
becoming involved by the belligerents
on both sides. so that the situation 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 belligeren,
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 for
mutation of the document. The only
thing the overtures did was to delay
it few days. 1t was not decided to
send until Monday. OF course, the diff
ficulties that face the President were
that it might be construed as a move
ment toward peace and in aid of the
German overtures. He specifically
denies that that was the fact in the
| document itself.
THE sending Of this note will indi
cate the possibility of our being forced
into the war That possibility 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 myself regards this
note as a peace note: it is merely ar
effort to get the belligerents to de
fine the end for which they are fight
ing"
These were the explanations of the
Presidents peace move emanatine
from Secretary of State Lansing ant
Mr.. Wilson. In the forenoon Mr.. Ian
sing put forth the official statement
that the President in making his
peace move was actuated mainly BY
the belief that I'VE are drawing nearer
to the verge of war ourselves"
Mr.. Lansing said that in his morn
ing statement he had sought to ex
plain the gravity of the situation con
fronting the United States in regard
to the grievances against the belliger
ents and the necessity of learning
whether the United States is to con
tinue a prey to moiestation of rights
involved in continuation of the war.
Washington.-Senator Hitchcock oi
Nebraska introduced resolution in
the Senate to indorse President WI
sons peace note.
London.-The Daily Telegraph in ar
editorial, in common with the Other
newspapers, says nobody will impute
anything but the worthiest of motives
and the sincerest purpose of impair
tiality between the combatants tc
President Wilson. but considers his
note inopportune.
Five Die in Masonic Home Fire.