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


ing them to define their war aims was conceive
weeks before Germany's peace propOsals-and Gle
many's move was made largely because Of the acut
diplomatic crisis between Berlin and Washington
This declaration with wealth OF confirming Dc
tail, is printed by the New York World, the new
paper closer than any other to the presidents
close that tbs virtually the unofficial organ of til
administration.
The story told by the World is the most stN'tlin
commentary on the international situation that Ina
reached Honolulu. 1t should bring to the minds q
residents Of there isles Of Peace realization q
the fact that their country is not far from the whir
pool OF In the light Of this story, the explains
lions Of Secretary Lansing are significant. Lansing
il will be remembered, said the United States wa
IN danger of being drawn into the maelstrOnl
Though the president caused him to revise his frs
explanation, il il not impossible that this first adde
dunn to the presidents note held the kernel of truth
Briefly, here is the Worlds statement and j
was not even limited at in Geographic dispatches i
Il absolutely new to Honolulu
Throughout the latter part OF November and earl!
IN December, evidence came to the state department
that Germany not respecting the pledges on sub
marine warfare 1t had given Mr. Wilson. lnfOrma
ton came that Germany was about to engage in
ruthless warfare, with large number of new and
powerful U-boats, and also that Berlin had remain
ed silent when Uncle Sam asked what punishment
had been given to submarine commanders who VIC
lated the pledge.
The diplomatic negotiations came to a mere and
more critical pass The Sussex note had placed this
country finally ON record as threatening to sever
diplomatic relatiOnsNwith Germany twas Obvious
That with a. resumption of ruthless warfare, Ger
many would again transgress her pledge, and that
tie listed States would have no course open but
that Of severing relations perhaps leading to war
On December s the crisis became acute and at this
time the president decided to put into effect the
World declares, plan he had long considerable
eendng circular note TO all belligerents Scaling
attention to the fact that the interests of the United
states as a neutral nation had been most seriously
aiected by the war, and that the concern of the
United States in Ms conclusion arose out of mani.
Iest necessity determine how best to safeguard its
own interests il the war was to continue"
The World goes on to relate that the president
then formulated his socalled peace terms note.
tCount Won Bernstorf," the World continues, 'eith
Ell received an intimation or learned indirectly of
the proposed steps. In any case, he became thor
oughly convinced of the acuteness of the situation
aud OF the danger that Germany ran of having the
United States sever relations with her. q.
This knowledge and the pressure of the internal
situation in Germany, caused Germany TO plan its
peace proposals. The World declares that the pro-
p0sal was to be made through The Vatican during
christmas week. as the time best calculated to reach
sentiment at home and abroad. But Won Bsfnstorffs
report on the acuteness OF the submarine situation
caused the German government TO hasten its action,
md accordingly Chancellor Won Bethmann.H ollweg
went before the Reichstag on December II with his
n0w-famous speech ~
The International situation was reyolHtionized.
The submarine crisis was at once 'eblankcted" and
public attention turned to this new phase. Prcsi.
dent Wilson determined merely to transmit the Ger.
man proposals without comment on his own and
liter tofollow the plan he had already decided Upon
that Of the circular note to bellgerents.
The World says also that Lansing's first state
ment was the true explanation of the Wilson note,
and this pro- Wilson paper declares that there is no
question but the danger to the United States caused
Mr.. Wilson to make his move. s @>..
The World article and those of other New York
and Washington newspapers, with resultant com
enf bring the SOLDERING conviction that the United
States is in more imminent danger of being invov-
Cd in the actual war than at any time since the sink
inc Of the Lusitania. Meanwhile, under the veil of
diplomatic secrecy events are occurring in Washing
ton, Berlin London and the other capitals at which
We outsiders can only guess
NORWAY HARD HIT