The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-12-28
LANSING HINTS
j. S. WAR PERIL
But Admits No Change in Policy
Toward BeI|igerents.
TWO STATEMENTS ARE ISSUED
Presidents Aid Declares "Peace Plea
is Not to Pacify Europe, But to
Find Out Where America
Stands.

Washington, Dec. 23.-Secretary
Lansing issued Il statement on Thurs
day simplifying and qualifying the one
he made earlier in the day regarding
the presidents notes to the belliger-
ents, 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 it clear beyond question that
there was no change in the policy OF
neutrality of the United States.
Mr.. Lansing also said his purpose in
simplifying his statement was to make
# plain that the notes to the belliger-
pnts should in no sense be construed
as threat to any of the governments.
His second statement follows:
81 have learned from several quar-
tiers that a wrong impression was made
by the statement which ! made in the
morning, and ! wish 10 correct that i'm
preston.
my impression was to suggest the
very direct and necessary interest
which this country as one of the neu-
trail nations has in the possible terms
which the hcliigerentS may have i'll
mind, and' did not intend to intimate
that the government was considering
any change in its policy of neutrality
which it has consistently pursued In
the face of constantly increasing diff
Culties.
II regret that my words were open
to any other construction. as l now re-
Hlize that they were. | think that the
whole tone and language of the note
10 the belligerentS shows the purposes
without further comment on my part.
It is needless to say that l am unre-
Servedly in support of that purpose
and hope to see it accepted"
Secretary Lansing'S statement was
as follows:
1.-THE reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows:
~ isn't our material interest we had
I'm mind when the note was sent but
more and more our own rights are be-
both sides, so that the situation is be-
coming increasingly critical.
II mean by that, that we are draw
ing nearer the verge of war ourselves
and therefore we are entitled to know
exactly what each belligerent seeks in
order that we may regulate our con-
duct in the future.
mo nation has been sounded. No
consideration OF the German overtures
or of the speech of L<Cd-George was
taken into account in the formulation
of the document. The only thing the
overtures did was to delay it 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 Ger
man overtures. He specifically denies
that that was the fact in the document
itself"
Secretary Lansing further said:
1.-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. 1t
may also serve to force an earlier con-
clusion of the war. Neither the presi-
dent nor myself regard this note rs a
peace note; it is merely an effort to
get the beligerents to define the end
for which they are fighting"