Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-08

Pressed as to whether he had any in
formation pointing TO any person in on the
leak, Tumulty said
Il have not I might have suspicious
built on rumor, but when regulations are
involved | wouldn't say anything
Tumultys first knowledge Of the note,
he said came from press association
correspondent in the middle Of the after
noon who told him, THE peace note mas
been given out" Tumulty asked 10 be eN-
cused from discussing Representative Wood
and the subject was pressed.
81 would be ashamed to be party to
an investigation which might tarnsh the
reputation Of any one on such hlmSy cNl-
dcnce as this cited here Tumulty flashed
IF / We're guilty of this would not he
ut to hold the smallest Office in the land
If l gave out all that unconirmed lntorma-
ton coming in my mail concerning can
didates and ofiicehOlders we'd be lnNeSll-
eating somebody or something all the time.
Tumulty explained that the usual pro-
cedure when the President wrote a note
was for him to send it direct TO the
state Department.
LANSING on STAND
Secretary Of State Lansing, called next
gave a history Of the preparation ana pub
Iication OF the note.
"a draft Of the note was received from
the White House about 4 o'clock Monday
said Lansing II called in Frank Polk
6tbe couuselor) and Mr.. Woolsey, law ad-
wiser I'm my Office. to discuss the form In
which Il should go out Mr.. Nuolsey took
n 10 three confidential stcnographers. 1t
was prepared and delivered To the chief
of the Index Bureau. An assistant, his
most confidential man, was selected, and
they locked themselves in room about x
o'clock that night for ciphering
"That night 1 discussed with the Presi-
dent the time for its publication, We de-
cided to make it public Wednesday morn
ing" ..
United states diplomats or employees
ahroad knew of the contents of the note.
rbinerfield wanted to know il lansing S
t,,o interpretations Of the note the day after
It's release We're made "on your own initla-
tive"
Lansing baked,
Il think that is beyond the scope of this
investigation" he replied, with touch OF
Democratic members FASTENED to Lam
sings assistance and held he need not an
He need not diyulge confidential mat
| ters." Chairman Henry said.
| Tuesday evening copies were handed 70
the chief of our information bureau. They
We're sent to the public printer.
| Next morning we received galley proof
| It was read by one man, Duncan, and sent
| back TO the printer
| Il told newspapeTmen that morning that
| I'd have note about o'clock that after
| noon for release the following morning.
CORRESPONDENTS TOLD
Il explained l was telling them because
| / feared 1t might come back from some
| foreign country in garbed form. l told
| them it did not contain a movement fol
peace OF offer Of mediation.
THAT night I saw Ambassador Willard
who told me he had been advised Of th'
contents OF the note by the President
I'VE discussed the adyisability Of ad
dressing Spain on the subject. The mex
day the note was made public"
Lansing said there We're no signs tina
any Of the department employees had dl
vulged the information they had nor die
he know Of any leaks in the newspapers
| He said there never had been any violations
of his confidence by newspapersmen-'a
least not until now"
~ Secretary Lansing admitted three men
not reporters were present when he mad
his confidential announcement. He name'
the three as G. II. SnOwden, New York
r. Gaylord, civil engineer. United state
navy, and DR.. NJ I. Mclean, United State
Mr. Lansing said he had never deal
In Wall street
FEARED GARBLED REPORT
so you didn't think Of the effect on Ia
market" Representative Bennett suggested
NO i gave the confidential infornafic|
50 thar the matter wouldn't come back iron