Evening star., 1917-09-07
FINDS PEACE BASIS
IN REPLY TO POPE
German Centrist Party Thinks
President Wilson's "War
Aims" Acceptable.
By the Associated Press.

| BERLIN, September 6, via London,
| September THE Roman Catholic
| centrist party has issued formal state
ment dealing with President Wilson,
reply to the peace note of Pope Bene-
dict Inasmuch as this statement is now
| making the round of the party press it
may be taken for granted that it reflects
the official view of.-tAe sponsors. ? It
urges that the Presidents message, al
though phrased in tone which is con-
sidered offensive, should be considered
| wholly in the light of its essential and
objective principle. This, it is pointed
out, gives different picture from that
| reflected in the early press comment
| The declaration of the centrists then
discusses the discrepancy between the
war aims set down in President Will
! sons message and those proclaimed by
the entente. adding that in this respect
MIR. Wilson's reply ought to prove ac-
ceptable. The statement then deals
i with the Presidents demand that the
! German people stand surety for their
| government, saying:
Terms It Helpless Ignorance
| What Mr. Wilson has to say con-
cerning the characterization of the Ger
man empire has only demonstrated the
helpless ignorance of this learned Pres
| ident of the United States. He does not
seem to have the slightest conception
| would have avoided. in connection with
| such a momentous message. conjuring
up a comparison between methods of
government of the German empire and
those obtaining at Washington.
Where is the more democratic sys-
| tenn to be found today-Berlin or Wash
| ington? If in truth there stands today
| at the head of any belligerent nation
! real autocrat. he may be found in
| the United States. Nowhere else has
| a ruler attempted to suppress the right
| and desire of the people to cooperate
i in the government. Is it necessary to
remind the President that the accred-
| tied representatives of the German
people on July 19 of this year solemnly
participated in the disposition of their
| destinies? And is it further unknown
| to him that the German chancellor has
| summoned seven members from out
collaborate with him in formulating
the reply to the Pope?
Institution Without Parallel.
"1n no other country does a similar
institution exist, and no other so-called
parliamentary system of government
possesses a similar body of constituted
representatives of the people which
wields equal influence upon the shaping
of policies in respect to an important
international problem Long before Mr..
Wilson addressed this demand to the
Pope the German people backed up
their government and stood surety that
their will shall assert itself in the en-
actment of fateful resolves involving
Germany'S future.
Long before Mr. Wilson arrogated to
himself the right to demand democratic
reforms in Germany our government
had granted Prusslan electoral reforms,
and we have the kings pledge that the
general, direct. equal and secret bal
lot. the most liberal electoral franchise
in the world, will now become an in
stitution in Prussia We also have
the definite promise or the chancellor.
achieve more intimate contact with
parIiament, and he has in good faith
already redeemed this pledge in part
Mr. Wilson may rest assured tnat
mand of the hour we will accept OF
our own volition.
"He will surely have learned this
much from history-that any attempt
from without to force a strong strong and and
mighty people to adopt ;padssssh certain ain con, m
such an attempt he is bound to have
,,1tia Iuck with the German people.
"The events which led up to the
break in diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany, fol-
,owed by the declaration of war. have
~ become sufficiently clarified to per-
nit final verdict. In any case 1t re-
mains for us to devise ways and , means aiG
wilson. We consider most stupid the
threat of the pan-German press that
peace discussion with such fellow is
wholly out OF the question; especially
will continue to be President of the
United States for several years more.
Most Of us are hardly inclined to carry
on the war under all circumstances to