Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-13
Germany Asks Pontiff's Precious
Support" in Move TO Bring About
Immediate Peace.

Berlin, Dec, l3-The peace note
presented by DR.. Won Muhlberg, Ger
man Minister to the Vatican, to Car
dinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary OF
State, follows:
According to instructions receiv-
ed, | have the honor to send to YOUR
Emlnence copy of the declaration
which the Imperial Government by
the good offices of the powers in
, trusted with the protection of Ger
man interests in the countries with
which the German Empire is in a
state Of war, transmits to these
states and in which the Imperial
Government declares itself ready to
enter into peace negotiations. The
.Austro- Hungarian, Turkish and Bull
garian Governments also have sert
similar notes
The reasons which prompted Ger
many and her allies to take this step
arc manifest. For two years and a
half a terrible war has been devast-
ing the European continent. Un-
limited treasures Of civilization have
been destroyed Extensive areas have
been soaked with blood. Millions of
brave soldiers have fallen in battle
and millions have returned home as
invalids. Grief and sorrow fill al
most every house.
Not only upon the belligercnt ma
tions but also upon neutrals the de-
structivc consequences of the gigar-
tic struggle weigh heavily. Trade and
commerce, carefully built up in years
of peace, have been depressed The
best forces of the nations have been
withdrawn from the production of
useful objects. Europe. which for
mcrly was devoted to the propa-
CATION Of religion and civilization,
which was trying to find solutions
for social problems and was the
home Of science and art and all peace
fui labor. Aow resembles an lul-
nrcnsc war camp in which dne ach-
ievcmcntS and works of many de-
cadcs are doomed TO annihilation.
Germany is carrying on Il war OF
defense against her enemies, which
aim ut her destruction. She tights
to secure the integrity of her from
tiers and the liberty of the German
nation, for the right which she claims
to develop freely her intellectual
and economic energies in peaceful
competition and on an equal footlS;g
with other nations. All the efforts
of their enemies are unable 20 shat
ter the heroic armies Of the (Teu-
tonicD allies which protect the from
tiers of their countries, strengthen
ed by the certainty that the enemy
shall never pierce the iron wall.
"Thosc fighting on the front know
that they arc supported by the
whole nation, which is inspired by
love for its country, and is ready for
the greatest sacrifices and determIn-
ed to defend to the last extremity
the inherited treasure CT intellectual
and economic work and the social o.
eanization and sacred soil Of the
country.
Certain of our strength, but re-
alizinc Europe's sad future if the
war continues; seized with pity in the
face of the unspeakablc misery OF
humanity, the. German Empire, ~
accord with her allies, solemnly re-
meats what the Chancellor already
had declared year ago that Ger
many is ready to give peace to the
world by setting before the whole
world the question whether or no IL
is possible to find basis for an uA--
derstanding.
"Since the first da yof the Pontifl-
cal reign. his Holiness the Pope has
unswcrvingly demonstrated, IN the
most generous fashion his soilcltude
for the innumerablc victims Of this
war He has alleviated the sufferlngs
and ameloratcd the fate OF thou
sands cf men injured by this cat&s-
trophe. Inspired by the exalted ideas
of his ministry, his Holiness has
seized every opportunity in the IN
tcrcst of humanity to end so SAN
culinary Il war.
The Imperial Government IS flrm"
w confident that the initiative OF the
four powers will find friendly Well
come on the part Of his Holiness, an4
that the work of peace can count upH
on the precious support OF the HOY
See"