Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-22
PRESIDENTS NOTE !
NOT INTENDED TO
CAUSE WAR SCARE
Secretary Lansing Issues
Formal Statement to
Quiet Apprehension.
HIS FIRST REMARKS HAD
BEEN MISINTERPRETED
Had Referred to Danger of U. S.
Being Drawn In Because of
Invasion of Rights.
WHITE HOUSE SHOWS CONCERN
Later Declaration Made After State
Department Head Is Called in
Conference by Executive.
HIS FIRST REMARKS HAD
BEEN MlSINTERPRETED
WHITE HOUSE SHOWS CONCERN
Later Declaration Made After State
Department Head Is Called in
Conference by Executive.
fRy Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON. December 2l-Presi-
dent Wilson's note to the belligerents
urging discussion Of peace was Off
ciaily interpreted to-day as not bear
ing any threat that the United States
might be forced to enter the war be-
cause of the continued invasion of its
rights by the warning powers on both
sides.
This interpretation was made late
to-day by Secretary Lansing in for
NAL statement issued to overtake what
were characterized as wide pread mis-
constructions placed on one made
earlier in the day. saying that because
OF the increasingly critical position OF
the United States as a neutral. It was
entitled to know exactly what each
belligerent seeks. in order that Il
might regulate its conduct for the
future.
secretary Iansing's final statement,
formally prepared and Issued after lie
hnd been called TO the White House
Tor conference with President Will
son. declared that he had not intended
TO intimate that the United states was
considering any change In its policy
of neutrality. and that the whole tone
and language of the note were sudl-
cient to indicate its purpose without
turther comment on his part
FIRST STATEMENT LEADS
TO WIDE SPECULATION
Mr.. l'ansing's first statement made
orally. and OF which no official cony
was distributed, led to eXaggeratious
VI i'S language and purpose through
OUT otnciai Washington. Its most
Str'k'hS phrases on which the widest
speculation was based were that tho
United States was drawing nearer tho
verge of war" and that the sending
OF the note will Indicate the nossi-
pliity of our being forced into tho
war and that neither he nor Presi-
"eht wilson regarded the note "as
peace note Secretary Lansing's first
statement was as follows:
ihe reasons for the sending OF tho
notes were as follows:
1T isn't our material ;,,a.
.'"u IN mind when the note was sent
ho ,'ole ana more our own rights are
becoming involved by the belIieerents
on both sides. so that the situntion =,
becoming Increasingly critical
mean by that, that w. ar. dr,
ing nearer the verge of war ourselves.
anu therefore we are entitled IN kro~
exactly what each belIigcrent seeks IN
or"er that we may regulate our CON
duct in the future
NO nation had been sounded. No
c"hSiaeration OF the German overtures
"r OF the speech of Lloyd George was
'"heh INTO account in the formulation
oi the document The only thing tha
'Ner'ureS ana was to delay it a few
u"s IL was not decided to send IL
u"t'i Monday. or course. the diificu,
.'eS ."a' race the President were that
'''hh ht pe construed as movement
w." a'u peace ana III aid OF the German
oHcrt"rcS. lie specifically denies that
that was the fact i'm th, 1,,x.
itself"