The sun., 1917-01-01
LANSING HELD
U.S.N0TE BACK
lie Is Said to Have Urged VII.
son Not to Take Peace
Step.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3I.-Accordine TO
diplomatic gossip in Washington. the
position in which the United States finds
itself as a result OF the Entente's rejec-
ton of Germany's peace proposals is due
to the fact that President Wilson re-
fused to heed the repeated warnings of
Secretary Lansing.
Mr.. Lansing. it IL explained. tried by
every means in his power to deter the
president from Interfering in the dlpo-
matte peace manpuvres at this time. He
1s said 10 have predicted that q move by
the President would place the United
States In the position of being regarded
az the self-appointed agent for the
Teuton cause.
The story which nnds credence in re-
sponsible diplomatic circles is that
President Wilson for months past has
dreamed OF eXerting his influence to
bring about European peace in the hope
OF serving not only the United States
but humanity. His hopes are said to
have been stimulated at regular intervals
by the advice OF two members OF his
Cabinet who have indorsed every peace
suggestion which reached him. But
Secretary Lansing has for months been
the stumbling block in the way OF put
form.
LaMsing's Warming.
Mr. Lansing is said to have explained
to the President not once but many
times that every bit Of trustworthy in
formation received through diplomatic
channels made it clear to him that the
Entente nations would bitterly resent
such move OH the part of the United
States and he accordingly pointed out 10
the President that official statements by
Cabinet members of the Entente nave
even gone to the length of stating in ad-
vance that such a move would be re-
garded as ndorsing the German propa-
ganda and IAN unfriendly act
In addition Mr.. Lansing mad. II IL
understood. the support OF conndentiai
sdvices from the American embassies IN
London, Paris. Petrograd and Rome ans
had always been able to demonstrate 10
| the President that no greater mistake
could be made by the United States GOV,
ornment than interfering with the trend
! of European diplomatic events "before
| the time was ripe for American action'
For considerably more than a year
Secretary Lansing has snuned OUT sue
| cessiyely every peace dream III 'ho
| pres,dent's Cabinet In some instances
members of the Cabinet have given IN
spired information to the newspapers
| Indicating that the President was OH
! the verge of making move TOT peace
! secretary Lansing has promptly snuned
these out. too. He has stood by his
Judgment that this Government must at
ali costs wait until the opportune time
| arrived.
| President's surmise.
Tba argument that interference by
,ba I-nited States would offend the En-
tente was accepted. II IL said, with some
| reserve by the President who felt tnat
| the people Of all the Entente nations
might be educated up to the point or
embracing the humanitarian cause OF
peace. s,,,,,
But the argument which Secretary
| Lansing is understood to have used win
marked effect was that should the Presi-
dent interfere without result now he
I might jeopardize his great chance OF
really helping the cause OF peace later.
| This had great weight On the basic
| Idea of hoping to see the United states
| assist the European nations In ending
the war the President and Secretary
Lansing have been In accord. But, ac-
| cording to diplomatic comment. the great
divergence has been that Secretary
Lansing wished TO wait until the time
| was ripe
IT is now understo ood that the Presl-
| dent last May was seriously considering
n peace move following hints from Ber-
lin that It would be welcomed But Mr
Lansing advised against the step. The
! President. therefore, confined himself to
n few speeches concerning the general
Endorsement OF peace and the more i'm
portant Endorsement OF the League tc
Enforce Peace.
The President was taking soundinGs'
.l..s - L.