The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-17

dies pee, pF"pue.-s "rse received
officially by the ME, SAFE sovern-
mem.
TAv. c,,ne ,hrousn ambassador
Pagr, At London
Tat foundation stones OF the pope's
proposals To END the world war are
reduction o. ornaments. freedom OF
the seas. settlement OF international
disputes 10y d: filtration. and that there
shall be NO retaliatory struggle for
economic world supremacy after the
war.
Diplomats geaerally believe there
will be no reply fer some time. 1t is
pointed out that President Wilson has
the difficult rssk OF not refusing to
discuss the proposals and yet not to
make a reply cut Of harmony with the
statements already made by statesmen
of England and France.
The Ques ion OF the return to Ger
many Of her lost colonies. especially
in the Far East. is regarded by some
diplomats As not so important as gen
orally has been believed. They do not
in China would make much difference
to her. They say European powers are
Interested in a division of colonial do
minions in the Far East. 1t is not i'm
possible Germany might be permitted
to retain hers.
Neutrals think the real stumbling
block would come over disposition Of
Alsace-Lorraine.
The text served TO strengthen the
prevalent opinion that there is no like,
lihood of the proposals being accepted
In their present form. That public
opinion in the allied countries, insist
ent on a favorable decisive culmina-
ton of hostilities. will cause the offer
to be rejected. is generally conceded.
Secretary Of State Lansing was ask.
ed by the Italian and Brazilian am
oassadors end by the Belgian minister
what lie thought Of the peace offer.
when these diplomats visited the state
department.
He replied that while he must re-
serve an official opinion. informally he
could say he did not think the United
States could accept the basis outlined
| by the pope.
When the secretary finished this
comment. he asked the visiting diplo
mats. who called on him separately,
what their opinions We're The italian
ambassador. from his knowledge of
Italy's previous position was quick to
say the status quo would be unaccept-
able.
The Brazilian ambassador thought
the entente countries had made such
great sacrifices that pubhx opinion
WOMB -cr ---=------f--- --e--
ditions existing before the way with
out some explanation by Germany for
her crimes.
Some of the diplomats think some
thing may come out of the pope's in
| tervention. They believe that the dis
cussion. begun by a rejection by the
allies of the pope's terms. may lead
| to a procurement from Germany
which will differ in character from
anything hitherto made.
These diplomats think Germany
sees Americas might about to be ex-
erted. and want to save as much as
possible from the wreckage that a
prolonged war might bring. They az
que that once America enters the wal
and her blood begins to flow, 1t will
be difficult to stay the conflict until
it has gone to a decisive conclusion.
This point of view, presupposes thai
Il Germany had foreknowledge of the
pope's offer and is deeply in earnest
in the effort to make peace now. Out
of that thought. hope for peace is OBJ
tanned, because once a discussion is be
gun, even the German government ma!
: find her public opinion willing to agree
to almost anv reasonable terms pro
: posed.
IF conditions are as serious in Aus
tria as officials believe. a break be
tween Austria and Germany on thu
peace question is not altogether be
yond the range of possibility.
The whole entente will work hal
} moniously in handling the pope's offe:
Perhaps the exchanges may bring on
the general principles of lastin
peace as understood by the allies. Pei
l hans Germany will go much farthe
. than anyone now knows.
It is surprising the number of pei
S sons even in our own army, who thin
the war will be over by January l. Th
J, paradox of it is that preparations TO
I war go on with undiminished energ!
:, and with a determination to max
great sacrifices.
They viii continue until every on
is convinced Germany really has bee
taught a lesson and is no longer
! menace to the further peace of tn
world