The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-22
DOWN
AFTER EXCITEMENT
fCOpt1nnad rom na1a II

i Z ASA4
tContinued froms pags ID
far as its attitude on neutrality is
4 concerned, President Wilson has not
changed. He has not switched from
| his strong conviction that the coun.
try does not want war If peace can be
maintained with honor.
He will use every human means
possible to keep the country aloof
from the struggle
/ But he sees in the possible failure
/ of present peace negotiations, acute
! danger from the Influence of an ems
/ Filtered people. This governments
attitude has been that if the allies re-
1 fuse to discuss peace with Germany,
the German people will be convinced
England's purpose Is to destroy. SO
! influenced, the German public;,e 1T is
feared, will even more strongly sup
port the very government England IS
bent upon disintegrating and will dea
mand more ruthless, more unre-
| stricted and more determined pursuit
of the war, on the sea particularly
This would endanger America.
| 1t would be in such an event, the
administration believes. that the real
danger will confront the United
! STATES. IL WaS vi DULL Gil SsSAAs sAA>>S
1.-THE president spoke, it is known,
when he warned as long ago as last
February when touring the country
on behalf of national defense that
sparks from tlaI great confasraticn
abroad may light at any time upon
our own shores"
Allied diplomats believed Secretary
Lansfng's first statement yesterday
morning indicated the United States
plainly was not acting for Germany
In making its peace suggestions
Teuton diplomats, som ewhat startled
at the first Lansing statement, feit
rather relieved at the supplementary
statement of the afternoon.
offieiaidom 10 Silent.
TBy Chas p. Stewart, United Press
Staff Correspondent
! 2IEe9GS AIRES, Dec. 9Th
first statement OF the American Sec
tretary Lansing, caused offic1aldom
here to close up clam-like. His sub
sequent modification failed to restore
| talkativeness. officials evidently. con-
sidered the situation too delicate 10
discuss.
Lansing statements have yet mater
ldlly dllcClcu +SoutA <1AAiSA ASOhAA
| kets. A majority of the traders DO
not expect any speedy results from
either.
/ Press comment is typical OF this
view. Editorials agree that the note
! is valiant and sensible and expresses
the sentiments OF belligerent peo-
pies as well as neutrals.'
The newspapers agree that the dag
nosfs President Wilson seeks, is OBJ
viously necessary to cure the present
| disease
Lansins's Statements Sent Abroad.
! [By Carl D. Groat, United Press starr
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Secretary
| of State Lansing's two statements OF
yesterday, in interpretation OF Presi-
dent Wilson's peaee note, were for
warded> today to American diplomats
abroad.
The diplomats will be free to in
form foreign offices Of these ofhclal
texts and it is felt that the second
statement will serve to correct any
| misconstructions which might be
placed upon the first
! Dispatch OF the two notes Will PROD
| ably obviate the necessity for sup.
Elemental note, which Lansing SAID
! he would send II his first "rumor OF
war" remarks were misinterpreted.
| The fact that the texts are forwarded
to the diplomats, will enable them TO
present to the European courts as the
official attitude OF this government
the idea that the United states re-
cards tfansgressions on Its rights as
i increasingly grave, but as thus far
causing no consideration Of change
in the neutrality policy:
Diplomats Opinions.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-F'or the
Same reasons that Great Britain and
her allies did not fatty reject the
peace proposals of the Teutonic pow
ers. they will not fatty turn down
the suggestion made by President
Wilson in his peace messages, was
the expressed belief Of some entente
diplomats here today.
This opinion was voiced to Unlteo
Press correspondent in intimate ano
CONFIDENTIAL talks at two of the most
important entente embassies In WASH
ington.
At these embassies, two reasons
we're given for the above opinion: Ic
| show officially and formally any re
greet" over the presidents peace sug
gestions by flatly refusing his request
for specific terms would be PLAYING
directly into German plans, since Ger
MANY then would have opportunity