Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-01
Lansing Two
Notes Furnish
New Sensation

/" Secretary LanSin0's two statements,
given out soon after the presidents
peace suggestions, are published In
full below. Hitherto only n,eaeer de-
tails had reached Honolulu: s..
Secretary Lansing's first statement
was as follows: -.... F..
The reasons for the sending of the
note were as follows: 1T isn't our
material interest we had in mind
when the note was sent, but more
and more sour own rights are becon1-
ing involved by the Delligerents on
both sides, $50 that the situation Is
becoming Increasingly critical Es., :
Entitled to Know seiIigerent stand :
Il mean by that. that We are draw
ing nearer the verge Of war ourselves
and therefore we are entitled to
know what each belligerent seeks In
order that we may regulate our con-
duct in the future. 49,. al
"No nation has been sounded. No
consideration OF the German overtures
or of the speech of Lloyd George was
taken into account in the formulation
of the document The only thing the
sovertures did was to delay it few
days. 1t was not decided to send II
until Monday or course, the difficult
ties that face the president were that
it might be construed as movement
toward peace and in aid OF the Ger.
man overtures. He specifically denies
that that was the fact in the docu.
ment ITSELF
CONSERVATION Created >
taThe sending of this note will In
dictate the, possibility OF our being
forced into the war That possibility.
ought to serve as q restraining and
SOLDERING force safeguarding Ameri.
can rights. II may also serve to force
an earlier conclusion OF the war.
Neither the president nor myself re-
gard this note as q peace note; it Is
merely an effort to get the belliger.
ents to define the end for which they
are fighting. IL.
of state had said spread throughout
the capital 1t created the greatest
CONSERVATION in official circles and
among the foreign diplomats. many
OF whom were calling at the state de-
partment to receive their copies OF
the note despatched to their eapitais.s
Statement Not Approved
It became apparent that the secres
tary's statement was not fully ap-
proved at the White House, and that
there was question as to the wisdom
of making any comment that might
be regarded as an addition to the
note. The White House was con-
cerned lest any word reach the for
eign capitals to be construed as tndi-
eating that the American note was
anything but what It indicated on its
face. So, after a conference between
President Wilson and Secretary Lans-
ing the second statement was formally
prepared and distributed at the state
department It follows:
Il have learned from several quar-
tiers that q wrong impression was
made by the statement which made
this morning. and ! wish to correct
that impression.
Policy Not 70 Change
Ny intention was to suggest the
very direct and necessary interest
which this country, as one Of the neu-
trail nations, has IN the possible terms
which the belligerents may have In
mind, and do not intend 10 intimate
that the government was considering
any change in its policy of neutrality
which It has consistently pursued IN
the face Of constantly increasing diff
ficulties.
Il regret that my words we're open
to any other construction, as i now
realize that they were. / think that
the whole tone and Language Of the
note to the belligerents show the pur.
pose without further comment on my
part It is needless to say that am
unreservedly In support of that pur-
pose and hope to see 1t accepted.