The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-23
ENJOYS of Belligerent Ma
tons Dismayed by Secre- :.
tary's Statements
TALK ABOUT VERGING
TOWARD WAR ALARMS
Making Break in Morning and Try
ing to Correct It in Afternoon Has
Impaired Usefulness as Mediator If
It Were Wanted.

WASHINGTON, Dee. 23.-Has the
power of the United States to make
peace between. the entente allies and
th central powers been lost by the
plumbers of the American secretary Of
state!
This question is being gravely dis
cuased by the ENJOYS of the belligerent
nations. 10 say that they were as
founded by the lack of tact and diplo-
matte skill displayed by Secretary
Lansing is putting it mildly. They are
dis mayed.
When Secretary Lansing permitted
himself to be quoted to the effect that
President Wilson had been actuated in
ma 'Iing his overtures to the belliger-
ent7 by the realization that the United
Ste was rapidly verging toward war,
he caused the gravest concern to the
central power ENJOYS here. At the
same time, the ENJOYS of the entente
powers, while surprised, were also
Glazed. 1t is inconccivablc to those
who have studied the attitude of the
administration during the two years
and half of war, that there could be
IN contemplation a war with Great
Bri ain, France and Russia.
Did the President Fear that the
United States would have to 90 to war
WITH all the belligerents! That was
equally ineonceivable, consequently, il
NUT have been that he feared that the
German submarine campaign would
eventually lead this country into an
embodiment
he statement from Secretary Ian
sins, which he made after consultation
with President Wilson yesterday AT
ter2oon, after he had given his war
like y interview, has only served tc
muddle matters more in the minds OF
diplomats. In the first place, they say
if the morning statement was correct
then the allies, so long as they have
ans hope of the United States entering
the war on their side, will never cor
sem to conference to talk peace
terms.
Il, on the other hand, Secretary Lam
sins made . diplomatic mistake in thu
morning, and tried to correct it in the
! afternoon, the feeling here is that al
the belligerents will hesitate befor,
| they intrust a matter of such tremen
, douS import as the declaration of Their
real terms Of peace, to a government
who Sc affairs of state are in the hand.
of men who bungle diplomacy This i.
time, it is said, when the utmost dip
lomatic skill and tact must be exer
cised in order to save a delicate situa
! ton, otherwise all hope of immediat,
peace will be shattered.
1t is limited here today that if it be
comes necessary TO disabuse the mind
of the bellig2rents of the notion tina
threat of war has been conveyed By
| the utterances of Secretary Lansing
| the President will send another not
| further explaining his attitude. TIL
feeling is growing in the capital tina
| the explanations have eheapencd tn
President s peace move by robbing i
| Of the aspect of Observation-Disclosures an,
| giving it the color of action under
| taken to determine the course tn
United States shall pursue in regard t.
its own grievances.
That this revelation will have a dis
tinct influence upon the character o
| the replies to the Presidents notes {
the belligerents is the general belief o
| diplomats.