Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-12-28
PER|LSU.S.
LANSING ASSERTS AMERICA WAS
NEAR BREAK, BUT QUAIL.
FIES STATEMENT.
NO THREAT TO ANY NEUTRAL
No Change Contemplated in Policy Of
Neutrality of the Washington Gov
ernment-"Peace Plea" Is to Find
Where America Stands.

Washington. Dec. %. - Secretary
Lansing issued a 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
1t plain that the notes to the belliger-
ents should in no sense be construed
as threat to any of the governments.
His second statement follows:
Il have learned from several quar-
tiers that WRONG impression was made
by the statement which l made in the
morning. and I wish to correct that i'm
preston.
No Change in Neutrality.
my intention was to suggest the
very direct and necessary interest
which this country as one Of the neu-
trail nations has in the possible terms
which the belligerents may have in
mind, and l did not intend to intimate
that the government was considering
any change in it's policy of neutrality
which it has consistently pursued in
the face of constantly increasing diff
culties.
II regret that my words were open
to any other construction, as l now re-
alize that they were. l think that the
whole tone and language of the note
to the belligerents shows the purposes
without further comment on my part.
1t is needless to say that l am unre-
servedly in support of that purpose
and hope to see it accepted"
Drawn to the Verge of War.
Secretary Lansing's statement, upon
which the White House refused to COM
ment, was as follows:
"The reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows:
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.
II mean by that that we are draw
ing nearer the verge of war ourselves
and therefore we are entitled to know
exactly what each belligerent seeks in
order that we may regulate our con-
duct in the future.
"No nation has been sounded. No
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
overtures did was to delay it few
days. 1t was not decided to send it
until Monday. OF course, the difficult
ties that face the president were that
it might be construed as movement
toward peace and in aid of the Ger
man overtures. He specifically denies
that that was the fact in the document
ITSELF"
Secretary Lansing further said:
1.-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 con-
clusion of the war. Neither the presi-
dent nor myself regard this note as
peace note; it is merely an effort to
for which they are fighting"
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, conferred with Secretary
Lansing, and it was understood the
secretary explained President Wilson's
action in addressing the belligerents.