Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22
PURPOSE OF NOTE TO
BELLIGERENTS IS To
SAFEGUARD AMERICA
Secretary of State Says Ma
ton Is on Verge of War and
Is Entitled to Know What 1t
May Expect

l6y AtGoc3aTed EreS&l
WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-Shortly
after o'clock this afternoon President
Wilson sent for Secretary Lansing and
the head OF the state department went
TO the White House for a conference.
When he left the White House Sec
rotary Lansing said he might have
statement later in the day. Such state
rnent. IL Is believed. will explain and
amplify his earlier statement and con-
vey an official Interpretation Of his re-
marks.
Secretary aLnsing late today issued a
statement simplifying and qualifying
the one he made this morning regarding
the presidents notes to the belligerents.
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 IL clear beyond question that there
was no change IN the policy OF neu-
trality OF the United States
Secretary Lansing also said his pur-
pose in simplifying his statement was
10 make II plain that the notes 10 the
belligerents should in no sense be con-
strtsd as q threat to any of the govern
ments.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-The danger
OF the United States itself being drawn
into the war BY reason OF it's increasing
" critical position as a neutral was one
Of the moving considerations in Presi-
dent Wilson's dispatch OF notes to all
the belligerents urging them to discuss
terms OF peace.
Secretary Lansing today authorized
the statement that the material rights
or the United States had not been the
paramount consideration Americas
rights. he said. were being more and
more involved by the belligerents and as
the United States was drawing nearer
the verge OF war. il was entitled TO
know exactly what each belligerent
seeks" in order that we may regulate
cur conduct IN the future
Secretary Lansing's statement. upon
which the White House refused TO COM
inent. was as follows:
The reasons for the sending Of the
notes were as follows:
1T En'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
Il mean by that that we are drawing
nearer the verge OF war ourselves and
therefore We are entitled TO know exactly
what each belligerent seeks in order
the future
NO nation had been sounded. No
consideration OF the German overtures
or OF the speech OF Lloyd-George was
taken into account in the formulation
d. Of the document. The only thing the
overtures did was to delay It a few
days II was not decided to send it un-
til Monday. OF course. the difficulties
that face the president were that it
F~Fz~ r. na1
ward peace and in aid OF the German
overtures. He specifically denies that
that was the fact IN the document it
self"
Secretary Lansing further said:
The sending Of this note will indi-
cate the possibility of our being forced
into the war. That possibility ought to
serve as q restraining and SOLDERING
force safeguarding American rights. 1t
may also serve to force an earlier con-
cluSion Of the war. Neither the pTesi-
dent nor myself regard this note as
peace note: II is merely an effort to get
the belligerents to define the end for
which they are lighting"
At the White House no effort was
made TO lessen the importance OF Sec
rotary Iznsing's statement President
Wilson would make no comment
President Wilson himself on several
occasions has pointed our the danger of
the United States becoming involved in
the war Because OF violations Of Amer
lean rights he has felt that the United
States had q very difficult role to ill.
Last February. while touring the mid
die west IN favor OF preparedness and
again during the last campaign, the
prestdent touched on that feature
In a speech at Pittsburg last January.
he said:
s~When You know that there are COM
bustibls materials IN the life OF the
world and In your own national life, and
that the sky is full OF floating sparks
from a great confiagration. are you go
ing TO sit down and say IL will be time
when the fire begins 10 do something
about Il? DO not believe that the fire
is going to begin. 1 would feel safer
IL we were ready for the fire.
II want 10 come as your responsible
servant and tell you this, that we do
not control the fire We are under the
influence Of II. but we are not at the
source OF Il We are where IL at any
time may affect US. and yet we cannot
govern its spread and progress"
Again at Cleveland. Ohio. the presi-
dent declared:
"Two-thirds OF the world IS at war.
1t Is not merely q European struggle;
nations in the Orient have been in
yolved, as we'll as nations in the west.
and everywhere there seems 10 be creep
ing even upon the nations disengaged
the spirit and the threat OF war. All
the world outside OF America is on
fire"
In q speech at Milwaukee. after point
ing out the development OF the war and
saying his object was to maintain peace,
the president added:
SO far have done so. and / pledge
you my word that. God helping me, i
will II IL is possible" He added that
the people Of the nation had hidden him
see that nothing stained the honor OF
the United States. Therefore there
NAV at any moment come a time when
/ can not preserve both the honor and
the peace Of the United States" he went
on
In one OF his campaign speeches the
president declared that the present was
the last great war in which the United