New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-26
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
| Sir: IL will be recalled concerning the
draft Of Mr.. Lansing's note Of December IL
asking the beligerent powers TO define their
aims in this war, that in the text which was
delivered to the Allied governments the
| President caused TO be inserted the following:
"The suggestion which | am instructed to
make the President has long had it in mind
TO offer He is somewhat embarrassed to
offer it at this particular time, because Il
may now seem to have been prompted by the
recent overtures Of the Central Powers. IL
is, in fact, in no way associated with them
in its origin. and the President would have
delayed Offering IL until those overtures had
been answered but for the fact that it also
concerns the question Of peace and may best
be considered in connection with other pro-
posals which have the same end in view"
II will be recalled that on December Il,
the day of the publication of that note. Mr..
Lansing put forward an explanation of the
reasons for sending it. in which IL is stated /:
"Of course, the difficulties that faced 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 note itself"
Later in the day. after comforting with the
President Mr.. Lansing put forth an explana-
ton Of his explanation which, however, did
not in any way refer to the subject matter Of
the paragraph just quoted but was restricted
to the single point that Mr.. Lansing, by his
earlier comment, "did not intend to intimate
that the government was considering any
change in its policy of neutrality"
The Presidents disclaimer to the Allies
with regard to any possible connection be-
II. n - nm
peace proposals stood untouched; indeed, the
Presidents assurances were emphasized by
his Secretary of States explanations.
The Allies, in replying to the President, ex-
pressly took note Of those assurances and
proceeded, in reliance upon them, to define
their aims in answer to his inquiry. That
reply, dated January 10, was published on
the 18th; il was supplemented by Mr.. Bal
four's note of the 18th, published on the 18th.
Three days later, on Monday, January 81,
1917, the President of the United States,
breaking a century old tradition, addressed
the Senate. After referring to the forward
ing of his note of December IS and the re-
ceipt of reply from the Central Powers in
which his inquiry concerning their war aims
is eyaded, he states:
"The Entente Powers have replied much
more definitely, and have stated, in general
terms. indeed. but with sufficient detniteness
to imply details, the arrangements, guaran-
tees and acts of reparation which they deem
to be the indispensable conditions of salts
factory settlement"
Then comes this disclosure of the Presi-
dents purpose in initiating this correspond
ence:
81 have sought this opportunity to address
you because | thought that | owed it to you,
as the council associated with me in the final
determination OF our international obliga-
tions, to disclose to you, without reserve the
thought and purpose that have been taxing
form in my mind in regard to the duty OF our
government in these days to come when it
will be necessary to lay afresh AMI upon a
rev plan the foundations of peace among
the nations"
Then comes, after various generalities, a
formulation of the new plan" It begins
as follows:
"The statesmen of both Of the groups Of
nations now arrsyed against one another
have said, in terms that could not be misin-
terpreted, that it was no part of the Europe