The Alaska daily empire., 1915-10-23
WHY THE POPE
IS NEUTRAL

IS NEUTRAL
 -t-
 DOUGLAS. Oct. 22.-To Che Edi- tor-Throughout all tho complexities of the present situation one point emerges clearly. While on the one hand there is general determina- ton on all sides to fight to tho end. there is on the other hand an equal iy general desire that the end may come as soon as possible. When Che time does come for tho question of peace. each Of the belligerents will be ss shy as a school girl of being the first one to suggest it The time win come when it will loo ar immense relief to everybody to find somebody else coming forward from @ position entirely neutral and outside to make the suggestion and apply it simultan- eously Go all the parties-so that the ground being prepared. each and ov- cry belligerent will be able to lake up the position of saying CT nm will- ing to consider peace if the others are willing. too" The expression Of this willingness will be much easier than for any one of tho parties to come forward and make the first pro posal, thus running the risk of a hu initiating refusal. Now there arc on- ly two powers in the world capable of assuming this convenient intermod- iary function. One is the United States. and the other is the Pope With regard to the United States there are many difficulties in the way of acceptance of this means Even if the intermediary of the United States should appear feasible. it is always good to have, so to speak. 9 second card up the sleeve; and to put on no higher level, the Pope certainly pre- sents himself as that second card. 1T not as the first After all, the United States is secular power and merely one political unit among many. The Vatican stands unique as passing its influence on purely spiritual foun- dation. Moreover the Vatican IS es- sentiany a cosmopolitan unit. which no mere nation can be. The Pope is the spiritual father of vast popula. tions scattered among all nations inc cluding the nations at war This gives a Ink between the Vatican and an parties. and makes It's attitude as gen. eral peacemaker natural intelhglble and not humiliating Go either side. Moreover the Pope stands officially for the Christian ideal of humanity which after all is a positive thing transcend. ing an differences Of race and nation ality.
 Under these circumstances two things seem quite obvious On the one hand there simply must be on the part of the Vatican an attitude of such entire reserve during the con- flict that no party can find the slight est handle for suspeoting that it will be otherwise than perfectly neutral and impartial in an its dealings. Be- sides this. there must also be O ring of transparent honesty and straight iorwardness porvading the whole of the Vatican action. such as wiil in- spire perfect confidence on an sides On this will depend not only the sue. cess Of papai intervention. but also the sheer possibility Of that Inter. ven,ion being exercised ot an. Now it is clearly the heartfelt desire of the Pope to exercise this office of me- diation for the stopping of world. wide scandal and the averting of fur. ther ruin from SO large @ proportion Of Chritendom. His object in view has always been to put an end to the war as soon as the different bellieer. ents can be induced to consent there- 10. The means to that end. il Che Vatican is to have any hand in the matter. must be an official and also an effectuol attitude of neutralifv This neutrality involves necessarily the abstention from passing any pub- lie Judgment whatsoever on the quality