The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-03
impossible, however, to say what value should be attached to this statement
 Pope Acting Alone.

impossible, however. to say what value should be attached to this statement
 Pope Acting Alone.
 Nothing has come to light in Wash ington to indicate whether the mes sage of the Pope was in any way due to a suggestion by Germany that she was anxious to make peace, but it is not doubted here that the Pope be- Heves Germany and Austria desire to have the war come to end as quickly as possible. It was learned that at the interview between Presi- dent Wilson and Cardinal Gibbons nothing was said to indicate that the Pope was acting except on his own ini tiative. That Germany is holding out the promise that Catholic Poland will be made independent is believed here, but nothing came to light today to show that the Vatican had been in any way influenced this.
 The desire of Germany for peace has been marked within the past week. It is known that there is a, hopeful feel ing in German circles that the efforts of the United States to obtain modif- cations of the British b1ockade( may serve as the basis for peace talk. Ger many is now at the height of her mil itary success, and obviously in a bet ter5 position to discuss peace terms than she may be in the future. Conf dence exists among the Germans that the successes in Russia can be con- tinued, but continued at a cost so great that Germany would prefer not to undertake them. There are indica- tions that if a. peace movement should be entered upon at this time, Germany would be willing to propose to with draw from Belgium and Northern France, and in addition might include in her program the establishment of independent government in Poland, and possibly cede to the restored king dom part of Polish Germany, and cede the Russian province of Bessaradia, to Rumania.
 With other parts of Russia. in her possession, and on the basis of her oc- cupation of Belgium and portions of France, Germany might be in a posi- tion to trade for her colonies and to obtain other concessions from her en- emies. She would also be in condition to help Austria obtain the dominating influence in the Balkan States A year from now Germany might not have so good an opportunity to trade with ad- vantage, and no doubt remains in the minds of those having some knowledge of the situation, that Germany is ready. and anxious to make peace, but it is lures to the United States or any na- ton that might be able to serve as mediator.
 Powers Must Act First.
 It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the United States government, while hoping that peace may come soon and ready to do it's part toward bringing about negotiations for an amicable settlement, will not take any step until assured that it's advances will not be rejected, or, more than that, will be received in 8, friendly and sympathetic spirit. President Wilson rendered his good offices to the Eu- ropean sbelligerents when the war was young, and found that it was impos- sib1e to make headway. Thereupon he made standing offer to serve the warning nations whenever they felt that he could so! At the present position of the government it is un- derstood there fs< no intention on the