The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-20
REPLY
TO POPE'S PLEA
Presidents Answer to Peace
Proposals Is Expected
to Sound Keynote
WILL HOLD TIME
is NOT YET RIPE
And Probably Insist Peace
Is Impossible Without
End of Autocracy

Washington, D. c., Aug. 20.-Secretary
Lansing let it be known yesterday that
the United States government would an.
swer the pope's peace note in com.
munication of its own and would not
merely acquiesce in joint communica.
tion from all the nations engaged in the
war again Germany. Officially, he
stated, the pope's proposals ARE under
very careful consideration and decision
has not been reached"
To send separate communication il
in accord with the practice of the United
States. In the opinion of state depart.
ment officials the entente countries
would not expect the United States To
Join in collective communication. It
would not surprise observers here, how.
ever, if the other nations who are fight.
ing in Germany would follow the lines
of President Wilson's response.
Those who have talked with the presi.
dent about the pope's peace note are
understood to have found him i'm.
pressed with the earnestness of the
pope's representations, but holding the
opinion that the situation and the char
acter of the proposals for entering into
negotiations with the Teuton powers for
ending the war do not Justify an &C.
eeptance of the pope's suggestions. The
expectation of those who are believed to
know something of the presidents views |
Is that out of courtesy to the pontiff |
there will be no hurry in framing the
answer to his representations.
The secrecy that surrounds the con-
sideration being given by the allies to
the pope's proposal has prevented any
disclosure as to what government is
sounding the other members of the group .
with view to reaching COMMON I'M
as to the reply to be sent to
he pope.
In entente quarters here the belief pre-
rails that the British government has
Undertaken or viii undertake this duty.
The opinion was expressed in one quar-
er that the speech of Lloyd George and
he statement in London Saturday by
4ord Robert Cecil, munster OF blockade,
10Th indicating the nDaceeptability of
he pope's proposals, We're intended to
onvey to the allies, and to the United
states in particular, the British view OF
he communication from Rome.
Judged by what is said IN foreign dip
omatic quarters here, there is less inter
st in the collective repiy or individual
eplies Of the entente powrs than in the
which the Unitel States will
make to the pope 1t is apparent from
he interest displayed that immense inn
ortance is attached by the allied gov
to the words Of President Will
on. In his reply, therefore, the presi-
ent will have the broadcast latitude in
citing forth the attitude of the United
tates.
Sincefhis war address to Congress the
resident has had less 20 say concerning
ne German submarine campaign than
bout the changes that must take place
/ Germany before America will stop
ghting. II is believed that in his com
unication to Pope Benedict he will
ate that the United States cannot dis
ISIS peace so lone as Germany's sea
'rces are conducting their operations of
racy and murder Abandonment by
ermany of her U-boat campaign, Presi-
mt Wilson is expected to insist, must
one of the prerequisites to a discussion
peace with the United States.
No doubt is felt that the president will
axe it plain also that peace with Ger
any that left the Prussian autocracy
cure would not be peace durable and
al, but an armistice, there being no
arantee against renewal of war by
e Prussian autocracv.
The president has already announced
e determination of the United States
t to treat with the present German
vernment and in some quarters it is
ggested that he may indicate means
hereby the word can treat with the
rman people.