Bisbee daily review., 1916-12-22
First Interview Yesterday Was Full of War Talk, but Later, After Seeing Wilson, He Talks Mildly.
 U. s. WILL REMAIN
 NEUTRAL, HE SAYS Secretary of State Regrets His Early Statement Bore a Wrong Construction and Frankly Changes It.
(By Review Leased Wire)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2f.-Pres-
 ident Wilson's note to the belIio-
 erents urging discussion of peace
 was officially interpreted today
 as not bearing any threat that the
 United States might be forced to
 enter the war because of the con
 tinued invasion of it's rights by
 the warning powers on both sides.
 To Correct Error
 This interpretation was made late today by Secretary Lansing in for nal statement issued to overtake what was characterized as widespread misconstructions placed on the one given out earlier in the day saying that because of the increasingly criti- cal position of the United States as neutral it was entitled to know exact ly what each belligerent seeks in or der that it might regulate it's conduct for the future
 U. s. Stays Neutral Secretary Lansing's final statement formally prepared and issued after he had been called to the White House for conference with President Will son. declared that he had not intended to intimate that the United States was considering any change in it's policy of neutrality and that the tone and language of the note were sufficient to indicate its purpose with out further comment on his part
 Not Near War
 MT. Lansing's first statement. made orally and of which no official copy was distributed. led to exaggerations of its language and purpose through out official Washington Its most striking phrases upon which the wid- est speculation was based was that the United States was drawing near CT the verge of war" and the sending of the note will indicate the possibil- ity of our being forced into the war" and that neither he nor President Will son regarded the note "as a peace note"
 Here is Original
 Secretary Lansing's first statement was as follows:
 'The reasons, for the sending of the note were as follows:
 Tt 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.
 ''I 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 conduct in the future.
 No nation has ben sounded No consideration of the German over lures or of the speech of Lloyd George was taken into account. in the formulation of the document. The on- ly thing the overtures did was to de- lay it few days. It was not decided to send il until Monday Of course. the difficulties that face the President were that it might be construed as a movement toward peace and in aid of the German overtures. He specifical- ly denies that this was the fact in the document itself"
 Secretary Lansing further said:
 The sending of this note will indi- ate the possibility of our being forced into the war. That possibility ought to serve as a restraining and sobering force safeguarding American rights. It may also serve to force an earlier conclusion of the war. Neither the President nor myself regard this note as a peace note; it is merely an ef- fort to get the belligerents 10 define the end for which they are fighting"
 Exeites Washington
 When word of what the secretary of state had said spread throughout the capital it created the greatest con sternation in official circles and among the foreign diplomats. many of whom were calling at the state de partment to receive their copies of the note dispatched to their capitals.
 (Cpntirued on pacp Sl