Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-15
EXPECT u. S. WILL URGE
A FAVORABLE REPLY
[Continued from First Page.l


citement. There is no doubt that the
proposal will receive the most cour-
teous and serious attention from the
United States, and there is every in
dicatIon that IL the note corresponds
with the press forecasts the United
States will urge the allies to return
favorable answer.
Even though the allies should ac-
cept the Pope's proposal. immediate
peace is not expected. For. in the
opinion of both state Department and
Entente embassies, there is no chance
whatever of the German governments
asserting to the proposition that
Germany should agree to evacuate
France. Belgium and Serbia and to
submit the question of Alsace-Lor-
raine to an Arbitrator.
May BaII< on AIsace Question
The attitude of the German gov
ernment and of all parties in the
| Reichstag except the Radical Social
lists, up to the present has been that
there is no Alsace-Lorraine question.
II is therefore inconceivable to the
diplomats of Washington that the
German government should now admit
that the question of Alsace-Lorraine
should be submitted to any person
or tribunal for decision. Further
more. it is believed that the recent
successes of the Germans against
Russia have again put the German
government in thoroughly annexa-
zionist state of mind. and that Ger
many will be unwilling to lose her
| hold on Belgium, Serbia and the iron
mines of French Lorraine.
In view of the terrible sufferings of
the German people. however, 1t is ex-
| pected that If the allies should return
| favorable answer to the Pope, the
majority Socialists as well as the
| Radical Socialists will demand that
their government accept the proposal.
| And because this offer emanates from
the Pope it is expected that the
Roman Catholic Centrum party will
/ join the Socialists in demanding Its
acceptance.
| Washington believes, therefore, that
should the allies return a favorable
answer and should the JunkeF-con-
| trolled German government return an
unfarovable answer the longing for
| peace of the German people might
result in revolt against the govern
| ment.
Austria United For Peace
In the opinion of Washington dip
lomatists this movement would be
! furthered by Austria-Hungary, which
is expected to be unitedly in favor
of the Pope's proposal. Indeed. it is
believed that the Pope was inspired
to make his move for peace in large
part by request from Roman Catholic
| Vienna. 1t is well known in diplo-
matte circles that Austria Hungary
wants peace on any terms except alb
solute dismemberment of her empire
And, should the German government
reject the proposal, 1t is expected that
relations between Vienna and Berlin
| will be greatly strained and that vi
emma will throw all her moral sup
port on the side of the German So
| cialists.
In view of all these facts, it is be-
lieved that the Pope has given the
United States and the allies a great
opening to widen the rift between the
German people and the German gov
ernment by returning a favorable an
answer to his note. Should the gov
ernment also accept the Pope's terms
there would be every opportunity al
the ensuing conference to lay the
basis for a liberal peace.
But as yet there is in Washington
no feeling that peace is in sight 1
is pointed out that the Pope's report