Arizona republican., 1917-08-15

an intermediary with the vatican be- cause of the better standing of that great Catholic empire with the pope
 There was no disposition to ascribe any but the loftiest motives to Pope Benedict in accepting at thelr race value peace proposals emanating from Vienna but naturally the question was at once. raised as to the proper d1Vl- sion of responsibility between the cen- tral powers and the pope. It was pointed out that it is important to know whether the proposal came full fledged from Vienna or Berlin or whether the pope himself fran1ed them in the light of an understanding he may have acquired of the minimum de- mands of the central powers.
 The entente diplomats agree that the peace proposals did not come from any of the allied capitals. So far as Great Britain is concerned it was said there has not been any intention of depart ing from the outlines disclosed in the public speeches of Premier Lloyd George and Foreign Minister Balfour.
 The extreme element among the French socialists have never con- templated anything short of the re- turn to French sovereignty of Alsace Lorraine while so far as Italy IS con- cerned, it is said here, that the gov- ernment would be overturned by the people if it consented to abate it's de- mand for Italia Irredenta," involving the restoration of the Austrian pro- vinces on the Adriatic to Italy.
 Russia's interest in the proposals as outlined is very limited, outside of her general concern for a speedy but hon. h llfNrs allies.
 The pope's proposal declares that the injuries to all belligerents have been so great there should be no thought of reparation except for the return of territory.
 Included in the restoration of terri tory the pope's proposals insist should be the return to Germany of all her colonies, as well as the complete restoration of Belgium to her sover- eighty.
 The pope's proposals which already have been delivered to the resident ambassadors and ministers of the war ring powers in Rome, are quite long making in print something more than column of large newspaper type Although special efforts are being made to facilitate it's transmission to the United States, this may not be ef- fected for at least a day or two. Meanwhile, however, an accurate outline of the principal points of the pope's communication is in the hands of the government here and already has received thoughtful consideration In eloquent language the pontif1 describes the terrible condition exisr- ing in Europe, which he declares is i headed for destruction unless the bel 1 ligerents are willing to listen to the 1 appeals of disinterested friends to cease
 a suicidal war. Such condition, thu i pope feels, amply justified him in talk ing the present opportunity
 i Taking the present opportunity t
 suggest what may be, he hopes, a least a foundation upon which peace negotiations may be initiated.
 At best Pope Benedicts proposals
 are only suggested as a rough basis fo 1 such negotiations and he realizes tha
 the details in all their complexity mus
 be worked out patiently and in a spiri 1 of conciliation by the belligerent
 themselves.
 j. Unqualified approval of Presiden
 Wilson's plan for the avoidance of flu
 eure wars by some form of interna 1 tOnal organization which shall hay
 behind it the necessary power to en
 force it's judgments is given by Pop,
 Benedict, who declares that along witt such splendid project must go an eff fective arrangement for the reductio, of armaments to point just sufficien