The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-29

Washington, Aug. 29.-The text of the
note to Pope Benedict by President Will
son follows:
ITO His Holiness. Benedictus XIV. Pope:
In Acknowledgement of the communica
ton of Your Holiaess to the belligerent
peoples. dated August 1, 1917, the president
Of the United States requests me to trans
NIT the following reply:
Every heart that has not been blinded
and hardened by this terrible war must be
touched by this moving appeal of His
Holiness, the pope; must feel the dignity
and forces of the humane and generous mo-
tives which prompted 1t, and mus fervent-
peace he so persuasively points out. But
II would be folly to take it If it does not
in fact lead to the goal he proposes. Our
response must be based upon stern facts
and upon nothing else. 1t is not mere
cessation of arms he desires it is a stable
and enduring peace This agony must not
matter of very sober judgment what will
insure us against it,
His Holiness. In substance proposes that
We return to the status quo ante bellum
and that then there be a general condona-
ton, disarmament and a concert of nations
based upon acceptance of the principle of
arbitration; that by similar concert free
dom of the seas be established: and that
the territorial claims of France and Italy
the perplexing problems of the Balkan
states, and the restitution of Poland be left
to such conciliatory adjustments as may
peace, due regard being paid to the aspir
atoms of the peoples whose political for
tunes and affiliations will be involved
Military Menace.
1T is manifest that no part of this pro-
gram can be successfully carried out unless
the restitution of the status quo ante fur
nishes a firm and satisfactory basis for it.
The object of this war is to deliver the free
peoples of the world from the menace and
the actual power of vast military estab-
ltshment controlled by an irresponsible
government, which, having secretly planned
to dominate the world, proceeded to carry
out the plan without regard either to the
sacred obligations of treaty or the long es-
tablished practices and long cherished prin-
c1ples of international action and honor :;
which chose its own time for the war; de-
livered its blow fiercely and suddenly ::
stopped at no barrier, either of law or of
tide of bloOd-not the blood of soldiers
only, but the blood of innocent women and
children, also, and of the helpless poor +;
and now stands baked but not defeated.
the enemy of four-fifths of the world. The
power is not the German people. 1t is the
ruthless master of the German people. 1t
is no business of ours, how that great peo-
pie came under its control or submitted
with temporary zest TO the domination of
its purposes; but it is our business to see
to 1t that the history of the rest of the
world is no longer left to its handling.
ITO deal with such power by way of
peace upon the plan proposed by His Holt
ness, the pope, would. far as we can
see, involve a recuperation or its strength
and a renewal of ats policy; would make
it necessary to create permanent hostile
man people, who are Its instruments; and
would result in abandoning the newborn
Russia to the intrigue, che manifold subtle
interference and the certain counter revo-