Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-29
SPOKESMAN ALLIES
(continued from Page One)

basis Of sound and enduring peace. for
the Presidents response, in its con-
Guiding paragraphs re-states the pur-
pose for which America entered the
great war.
The radical difference that appears to
exist between the Pope and the President
touches this very matter of a. stable and
enduring peace. The Pontif looks to the
restoration Of conditions as they existed
before the war; the President turns his
back upon these, convinced that re-
turn to the status quo ante hellum could
never bring permanent peace which can
be secured only by agreement between
free peoples on both sides.
Doom Of Hohenxollernism
As one official. commenting, expressed
It, the Presidents response. rejecting as
It does the views Of the Entente Allies.
sounds the doom Of Hohenzollernsm and
military domination of peoples. That this
can and should be accomplished without
the destruction OF the German people Is
one of the striking expressions In the
Presidents note. when he expressly dis
claims any intent to seek punitive dam
ages and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF empires
or even the punishment Of the Central
Powers after the war by gigantic eco
nomic combinations against them.
Over Heads Of Foreign Office
This shaft is aimed straight over the
heads of the army controlled German for
eign oflce at the understanding and ap-
probation Of the German people, already
manifesting many signs Of decision 10
assert their right to govern themselves
by parliamentary methods.
1t is assumed here that there Will folio"
fierce outburst Of denunciation against
the attempt from the outside to dictate TO
tn. German people their form of govern
ment. but It Is also believed that as the
hardships of war and misgovernment
bear with ever increasing severity upon
the German people they must in the END
throw of their military masters and take
In their own hands through representa-
tive government the conduct Of negotia-
tons looking TO a fair and honorable and
permanent peace.
Exchanges with Entente
Active exchanges have been in prog
ress between the President, Secretary
Lansing and the Entente powers
! mainly through the American dipio-
matte representatives abroad regard
ing the answer to be made to the
Pope's proposals ever since these were
delivered to the various foreign om-
ces. 1t seemed by common consent
that to America was confided the
heavy responsibility of framing and
delivering the first Of the replies
The propriety of this course was ap-
parent from the consideration OF the
fact that every one of the Entente
premiers and foreign ministers VINO
had spoken publicly on the subject OF
peace had turned to the language OF
President Wilson's historic address to
Congress and his other public utter
ances on the subject as disclosing
their own conceptions of the proper
basis OF peace negotiations, and even
more potent than these considerations
was the conviction that America is
best fitted of all nations to deal what
II fs hoped will be the death blow to
autocracy of the Germanic type.
Transmission Of Reply
Although the Pope's proposals we're
addressed to the leaders of the nations
at war, which Of course included
President Wilson and were signed by
the Pontiff himself. the response was
signed by Secretary Lansing As the
latter expressly stated that he was
merely transmitting the President