Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-18
WAS LANSING RIGHT?

a.
President Wilson's note TO the belligerents ask
ihr themlto define their war aims was conceived
weeks before Ciermany's peace proposals Ger
naiy's move was Illde largely because of the acute
diplomatie crisis bctween Berlin and Washington
This detaarati6h with asweaIth Of confirming de
ali, Is printed by The New York World, the news
Iaper closer than any other to the presidents
1Ioee that il is virtually the unofficial organ Of tho
administration. ~
The story told by the World is the most startling
Commentary on the international situation that has
reached Honolulu. 1t should bring to the minds Of
.1sidents OF these "Ises OF Peace realization Of
tie fact that their country is not far from the whir
.6ol Of war In the light Of this story the explana
'6ns Of Secretary Lansing are significant. Lansing
4 viii be ren,embered, said the United States was
IL hanger of being drawn into the maalstrom
though the president caused him TO revise his first
/D|anafiQh IL d not impossible that this first adden
|1ni 10 the predenfs note held the kernel Of truth
Bfiefy. here Is the Worlds statement, and as il
ms not even hlnfe Tin teIegraphic dispatches, il
& absolutely new to Honolulu:
Throughout the latter part OF November and early
December, evidence came TO the state department
lad Germany was not respecting the pledges on sub
.1tine warfare IL had given Mr.. Wilson. Informa-
Ion came that Germany was about to engage in a
.|hless warfare, with large number of new and
.&erful T.boats and also that Berlin had remain
ID silent when Epcle Sam asked what punishment
lad been given TO submarine commanders who yio-
.|ed the pledge.
The diplomatic negotiations came to a more and
.ofe critical pass The Sussex note had placed this
.1ntry 6nally on record as threatening to sever
'D|omatic relations with Germany. TWAS obvious
.1i with "a resumption Of ruthless warfare, Ger
.Iny would again transgress her pledge and that
|1 United States would have no course open but
Mai Of severing relations perhaps leading to war.
0n December the crisis became acute and at this
me the president decided to put into effect as the
6rld declares, plan he had long considered Of
.tihc circular note to all belligerents scaling
entionto the fact that the interests Of the United
.ies as a neutral nation had been most seriously
.ected hy the war, and that the concern of the
.'Ied States in its conclusion ont Of mani
ID necessity to determine how best to safeguard its
..h intefSsts If the war was to continue
Ihe Wbrld goes on to relate that the president
..n formulated his fo-called npeaee terms note.
omit Won Befnstoff,r the World continues, @eith.
received an intimation or learned indirectly Of
II. br0onsed steps. In any case, he became thor
..Ily convinced OF the aeuteness of the situation
md 81 the danger that Germany ran Of having the
'Iittd states sever relations with her -
This knowledge, and the pressure Of the internal
|16iion'in Germany, caused Germany to plan its
..tc PROPOSALS The World declares that the pro
...aI vas to be made through The,vatican during
fIsmas week, as the time best calculated to reach
.0timent at home and abroad But Won Bernstorf's
.06ff on the acuteness Of the submarine situation
.sed the German government to hasten its action
1. ~ HILL