The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-21
Washington Treated to Brand
New Sensation Today.
NeutraIs Demand to Know
What BeIIigerents Seek.
MESSAGES NOT PEACE NOTES
s'POsitiOn of Neutral Nations Is
NATURALIZATION.
Invasion of American Rights by
Both Sides Must Stop.
MAY DRAW u. S. into WAR
Wilson Explains Why He Sent
Notes to Europe.
Neutral Nations Are Back OF
Presidents Move.
MAY DRAW U. S. INTO war
Wilson Explains Why He Sent
Notes to Europe.
Neutral Nations Are Back OF
Presidents Move.

Washington. Dec. 21.-Plainly hint
inc that there is danger of the United
states being drawn into the war, Sec
retarv of State Lansing today said
this was the real reason behind Pres
idant Wilson'S message to the belliger-
ents e,....
rho situation of the United States.
as a neutral is rapidly becoming IN
to1era bIe. he said. Therefore the
nresident had demanded show
down. ,, a
the situation is becoming so lntoler-
able that it cannot go on longer, de-
clared the secretary of state.
More and more our rights are IN
vaded by the belligerents on both
sides so that the situation is becoming
fncrea sfnglV critical. l learn by that
that we are drawing nearer to the
verge of war and therefore are en-
titled to know what each belligerent
seeks in order that We can regulate
our conduct in the future
at was not our material interests
that were considered when he said
that the situation might become. IN
tolerable We have prospered by the
war. but our rights have been in
Vaded."
Not a Peace Move at All.
Lansing emphasized positively that
the German peace proposal and the
TJovd-C;eorpe speech had nothing to
do with the dispatch of the wilson
note except possibly to delay sending
it,
On this point he authorized quota
ton as follows:
NO nation has been sounded on this
matter and we did not know in ad-
vance what Lloyd-George would say
And there was no consideration OF
German overtures or the speech OF
TloVd-Georee in connection with for
nation of this note.
THE only thing the German over
lures did was possibly to delay the
note a few days
1T was not finally decided to send
this until Monday. (The note was sent
Monday night and Tuesday morning)
The difficulty that faced the president
was that the note might be construed
as movement for peace ana IN aao y.
of the German oVertures. He specltl-
cally denies that that was factor IN
the communication itself"
Previous to authorizing the above
quoted statement Lansing had talked
more freely than usual and in the
same tenor.
Danger of L. S. Being Drawn In.
1t has been suggested to him that
the United States really was in no
Dosition to stop the war unless the
belIigerents themselves desired to end
IT. to this he hinted that II the United
States were to enter the war 1t would
turn the scale definitely and he en-
phasized that there was a feeling of
danger that the country would be
drawn in.
He had also said that there was in
the administration mind no purpose
to suggest peace in any way.
on the contrary he explained that
what had been generally interpreted
as n desire to learn the peace terms of
both sides was in reality an effort to
ascertain what would satisfy the bel
Iigerents as to ending the war; but
with the viewpoint of rendering the
position of neutrals less intolerable.
Iansing's whole talk emphasized the
idea that 1--WE will have to do some
thing if American rights are further
invaded and if both sides continue in
fractions of international law which
involve American lives property and
rights.
Has Basking of Ncutrals.
Washington. Dec. 21.-In making
his first formal effort to get a state
ment OF peace terms from the bel
ligerent powers and to evolve from the
European war means of preventing
similar world tragedy, President VIII
son acted with knowledge that the
other world neutrals would stand be
hind him, it was stated today.
He has the greatest confidence thai
his efforts will succeed.
O1tlGlal ana w
today scarcely recovered from the
startling development of his sending {
peace note to all countries, awaited
with anxiety the first response from
beiligerent nations to the president:
suggestion for peace definitions.
The presidents action came out o.
n clear sky. He explained this coun
try's intimate interest in the war!
conclusion thus:
Reasons for Mediation.
Lest it should presently be too
late TO accomplish the greater things
which lie beyond it's conclusion.
Lest the situation of neutral ma
tions. now exceedingly hard to en-
dure. be rendered altogether intoler-
able. And,
Lest an injury be done civiliza-
tion itself which can never be atoned
for or repaired"
The president has made it cleal