Arizona republican., 1916-12-22
NO THJ ""T 1v,L,MN ILM NOTE
 HATUNITEU STATES
 MAYENTER GREAT WAR
fRepublican A. P. Leased Wirel

Wilson's note to the belligerents urging discussion of peace was officially inter preted today as not bearing any threat that the United States might be forced to enter the war because of the con- tinued invasion of it's rights by the warning powers on both sides.
 This interpretation was made late today by Secretary Lansing in a formal statement issued to overtake what was characterized as widespread miscon- Structions' placed on one given out earlier in the day saying that because of the increasingly critical position Of the United States as neutral it was entitled to know exactly what each bel ligerent seeks in order that it might regulate it's conduct for the future.
 Secretary Lansings final statement, formally prepared and issued after he had been called to the White House for a conference with President Wilson, declared that he had not intended to intimate that the United States was considering any change in it's policy of neutrality and that the whole tone and language of the note were sufficient to indicate it's purpose without further comment on his part.
 MT. Lansings first statement, made orally and of which no official copy was distributed led to congregations of it's language and purpose throughout official Washington. It's most striking phrases upon which the widest specula- ton was based was that the United states was drawing nearer the verge of war and that the sending of the note will indicate the possibility of hnf that neither he nor President Wilson regarded the note "as a peace note.' Secretary Lansing's first statement was as follows:
 The reasons for the sending of the note were as follows:
 Tt is not out material interest we had in mind when the note was sent but more and more our own rights are becoming involved by the belligerents on both sides, so that the situation is becoming increasingly critical.
 In addition to that. we are drawing nearer the verge of war ourselves and therefore We are entitled to know eX- actly what each belligerent seeks in order that we may regulate our con duct in the future.
 No 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 overtures did was to delay it a few days. It was not decided to send il until Monday. Of course, the difficuI- ties that face the president were that It might be construed as a movement toward peace and in aid of the German overtures. He specifically denies that that was the fact in the document itself''
 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 restraining and soberine force safeguarding American rights. | may also serve to force an earlier con- cluslon Of the war. Neither the presi. dent nor myself regard this note as { peace note; it is merely an effort tc get tne belligerents to define the enC Tor which they are fighting"
 When word of what the secretary O. state had said spread throughout the capital it created the greatest conster nation in official circles and amona the foreign diplomats. many of whon We're calling at the state departmen to receive their copies of the note dis patched to their capitals.
 It became apparent that the secre tary's statement was not fully approve, at the White House and that there wa, question as to the wisdom of makin, any comment that might be regarde, as an addition to the note. The Whit House was concerned lest any wort reach the foreign capitals to be con strueo as indicating that the American note was anything but what if indi cated on its face. So, after a confer ence between President Wilson an, secretary Lansing, the second state ment was formally prepared and dis 1 trlbuted at the state department follows: nave learned from several ouar ters mat a wrong impression was mad py the statement which l made thi, morning, and l wish to correct that i'm pression.
 l My intention was 10 suggest tn very direct and necessary interes "hlch this country, as one of the neu : tral nations has ill the possible term l Wnich the belligerents may have il nihd and 1 do not intend 10 intimat ] that the government was considerin. any change in it's policy of neutralit which it has constantly pursued in in lace of constantly increasing difficul ! ties
 1 T regret that my words were open f any other construction as I now realiz that they were. 1 think that the whol tone and language of the note to tn , Delilgerents show the purpose withou : further comment on my part 1t i needless to say that I am unreservedl Tn support of that purpose and hope t i see it accepted"
 Al the White House no commer whatever was made on the note itsel
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