Evening star., 1916-12-21

Mr.. Lansing's Statement.
Secretary Lansing's statement. upon
which the White House refused to
comment, was as follows:
1.-The reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows:
"It isn't our material interest we had
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
1T mean by that. that we are drawing
nearer the verge of war ourselves. and
tffsrsfure, we-are entitled to know .ex.
actly what each belligerent seeks. In
order that we may regulate our conduct
in the future.
Warning Nations Not Sounded.
mo nation has been sounded. Nc
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
oyertures did was to delay 1t 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 German
overtures. He specifically denies that
20 Sv, I,n n mt
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.
It 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 an effort to
get the belligerents to define the end
for which they are lighting
President Withho1ds Comment.
At the White House no effort was
made to lessen the Importance of Sec
retary Lansing's statement. President
Wilson would make no comment.
The Presidents notes had been prac-
ttcally forty-eight hours on their way
today. and officials believed they had
reached all the foreign capitals. AL
thoueh all official Washington is
listening with the keenest expectations
tn any indications of how the notes will
be received, diplomats think 1t is IN
credible that President Wilson should
have taken his action without some
No re.
iected without consideration by the
entente allies The wish and hope of
the German allies that he take such
step had long been well known here:
and there is no doubt OF the manner oi
its reception among them-
Cheers German Ambassador.
T, German quarters the conviction
that the Presidents action would sure
ly lead to some sort of consideration
of peace terms was expressed in the
following authorized statement by
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
bassador:
NOW I am perfectly convinced that
there will be a conference"
Desnite the fact that President Will
son,s notes state specifically and unre-
seryedly that he is not proposing
neace. he is not even onertng media
ton" they are regarded here as OF
such a nature as VIII compel all the
beiIiperents to make more Of reply
Than mere acknowledgment of re-
ceipt.
British Embassy Surprised.
British embassy officials made no at
temnt to conceal their surprise at the
action. They were not
alone. however. for all official WASH
ineton had been led by ofhcials to be-
1,eve that the President. in transmit
ting the German peace proposals with
nut comment. had taken all the action
thar was to be expected from the
United states for some time to come,
,niess there was some unforeseen de-
veionment in world affairs. The
secrecv with which the preparation Of
the notes and their dispatch were sur
was complete and nothing
Was known about them until they
were well on their way to the bel
ligerent capitals.
The dennlte proposal Of the United
states for "a league Of nations to In
sure peace and justice throughout the
world is interpreted ~ step. which,
Il carried through. would mean the