Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-09

had that there had been a disclosure of
the contents of the note?" asked Repre-
sentative Campbell, Republican.
ST had none until it was stated in the
| newspapers" Lansing replied.
Secretary Lansing said he had made
inquiries around the state department
for a leak" but had failed to locate
| one.
NO KNOWLEDGE OF LEAK
"Have you any information as to a
leak on the note about IL o'clock on
Wednesday," asked Campbell.
Not to my knowledge" said Mr.. Lam
| sing.
at has been suggested here that rep
| resentatives of two newspapers may
| have sent out information at that time"
'I have seen references to it in the
| newspapers"
HAS anything been done at the state
| department with respect to that to show
whether there is any foundation for
| that%'
None at all. think it would be
| easy to find out"
Mr.. Lansing said that at the confer
ence with the newspaper men were
| three other gentlemen present waiting
| to see him but that he did not know they
were there until afterward.
'Who were these menu" asked Repre-
sentative Lenroot.
"A. E. Snowden, of New York; r. Gay
| Ior, a civil engineer of the navy, and
Dr. Nj. T. Mclean, of the navy said
| Mr.. Lansing 1.-The two naval officers
were about to proceed to Hayti for the
| government"
at is not likely that they would say
| anything about your statement" asked
RepI sentative Bennett
VERY improbable"
| Representative Bennett, addressing Mr..
Lansing, said the latter had stated he
never had speculated, and asked.
For that reason isn't it possible thar
J you gave little thought to the effect some
statement made by you might have on
| the stock market"
"I never gave 1t a thought" said
the secretary. 1T never entered my nina.
l was merely anxious to preserve the
! courtesy due to foreign nations in the
matter"
'Did you know Mr.. snowden?" asked
Bennett.
| mot at that time
"Was he a rather large man connected
with the National Manufacturing as
| sociation?"
! with Snowden practically a stranger
/ to you, did it occur to you that he might
make use of the information" asked
! Bennett.
| 81 did not know he was there"
! where was the conference with Am
bassador Willard?"
| AT my house on Tuesday evening"
WILLARD SENT MESSAGE
| Secretary Lansing later explained that
| Ambassador Willard sent a message to
Spain on Wednesday afternoon.
Questioned further about his confer
| ence with the newspaper men, Secretary
Lansing said:
my statements regarding the note
were entirely negative. 1 said nothing
| whatever about a request for terms
having been made. / gave no details. I
stated that o'clock they would be able
| to get an important communication sent
| to belligerent governments. / said that
| it was not 4 proposal of peace or an
| offer of mediation. Then l explained the
reason I wished them to preserve conf
dence. 1 knew the note was in the hands
/ of the printer and wanted to guard
| against any mere rumorS that might get
| out"
| In response to questions by Repre-
sentative Chiperfield, Mr.. Lansing said
| forty-three messages later were sent to
American diplomatic representatives
broad.
| Representative Chiperfield questioned
Mr.. Lansing regarding the two state
ments he made to the press explaining
| the note on Thursday after the note hau
been mad public He said the first was
made at o'clock in the morning and
the second in the afternoon.
| Were these statements made entirely