The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-29
IN ANSWER TO THE POPE, wilson
DENOUNCES GERMAN RULERS AND
SAYS KA|SER'S WORD WORTHLESS
REFUSES PoNTIFF'S PROPOSAL FOR STATUS QUO ANTE,
WHICH WOULD LEAVE MILITARY AUTOCRACY
IN CONDITION TO RENEW ASSAULTS ON
FREE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.

Washington, Aug. 29-The text Of
President Wilson'S reply to Pope Bene'
diets peace proposal follows:
"To his holiness,
"Benedictus XIV Pope:
"ln acknowledgement OF the commun'
icauon Of your holiness to the belliger'
ent peoples, dated Aug. l, 1917 the
president Of the United States requests
me to transmit the following reply;
EVERY heart that has not been blind.
ed and hardened by this terrible war
must De touched by this moving appeal
of his holiness. the pope. must feel the
dignity and forces of the humane and
generous motives which prompted it,
and must fervently wish that we might
take the path Of peace he so persuas-
lively points out But it would be folly
TO take Il, II il does not in fac, lead
TO the goal he proposes.
Deals With Facts Only.
"Our response must be based upon
stern facts and upon nothing else. II
is not a mere cessation of arms he ic.
slres; il is a stable and enduring peace.
This agony must not be gone through
with again and il must be a matter
of very sober judgment that it viii
insure us against It.
His holiness, in substance, proposes
that we return to the status quo ante
bellum and then there be general con.
donation. disarmament and concert
OF nations based upon acceptance Of the
priacple Of arbitration; that by a simi.
lar concert freedom Of the seas be es.
tablished; 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
ooncliatory adjustments as may be pos.
sihe In the new temper Of such a peace.
due regard being paid to the ASPIRATIONS
OF the peoples whose political fortunes
and affiliation will be involved
Plots Of DthOnor.
IT is manifest that no part OF this
program can be successfully carried out
unless the restitution OF the sta us quo
ante furnishes a firm and satisfactory
basis for H. The object of this war is to
deliver the free peoples OF tl,e world
from the menace and the actual power
OF a vast military establishment con.
trolled by an irresponsible government
which, having secrecy planned to dom
mate the world. proceeded to carry out
the plan withoL, regard either TO the
sacred obligations Of treaty or the long
established practices and long cherish
ed principles OF international action and
honor; which chose its own time for
war delivered its blow fiercely and sud
denly stopped at no barrier, either OF
law or OF mercy: swept a whole contin
ent with the 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 stand.
balked but not defeated. the enemy OF
fourfifths Of the world. The power 1,
not the German people. II is the ruth
less masSer Of the German people. II
is mo- business OF ours how that great
people came under its control or sub
mitted with temporary zest to the dom
ination Of its purpose: but IL is ow
business TO see to II that the histor,
Of the rest OF the world is no longe,
left 10 It's handling.
Your Plan Would Aid Enemy.
To deal with such a power by wa,
OF peace upon the plan proposed by hi,
holiness the pope. would so far a,
we can see, involve a recuperation OF il.
strength and a renewal OF its policy
and would make n necessary 10 Great,
"a permanent hostile combination of mn
tions against the German people. VIII,
are its instruments; and would result
IN abandoning the new born Russia tt
the intrigue, the manifold subtle inter
ference and the certain counter revolu
ton which would be attempted by al
the malign Influences to which the Ger
man government mas OF late accustom
ell the world. Can peace be based upor
a restitution OF It's power or upon an,
Word Of honor IL could pledge in n treat,
OF settlement and accommodation
American People Have Suffered.
Responsible statesmen must now
everywhere see. IL they never saw be
fore, that no peace can rest securel,
upon political or economic restriction,
meant to benefit some nations and erin
pie o. emharrass others upon vindic
tive action OF any sort on any kind of
revenge or deliberate injury. The Amer
lean people have suffered lntolerabl,
wrongs al the hands Of the imneria0
German government. but they dcsi,,
no reprisal upon the German people
who have themselves suffered an THING.
In this war which they did not choose
They believe that peace should resi-
upon rights OF peoples not rights ot
gove nments-the rights OF peonle,
great or small, weak or powerful-th -thei,
equal right 10 freedom and sec,irit,
and self government end % a partlei
patton upon fair terms In the economi,
opportunities of the world-the CO..
mao people OF course included. il the,
VIII accept equality and not seek domi
nation.
The best therefore. OF every plar
Of peace Is this. Is il based upon min
OF all the peoples involved or merel,
upon word of an ambitious and iptrlr
uing government on the one hand nm,
OF a group OF free peoples on the 9th
err This Is a test which goes 10 m,
root of the matter and Il "a the tes
which must be applied.
Selfish Leagues Denounced
The purposes Of the United state.
IN this war are known 10 the Who'll,
world-to every people TO whom IN,