The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-23
WAR LORD ORIGINAL
DEFENDER OF PEACE
In Reply to Pope German Emperor
Has Himself Described AS
Lifelong Pacifist.
But WORD PREPARATION
FOR WRONGS UNSPOKEN
Neither of Central Powers Gives
Slightest linking of Compensating
and Restoring Raped Countries.


London, September 2g-The Eng
l!sh press greets the kaiser's reply to
the pope's peace proposal as 'hypo-
critical claptrap." Neither the Ger
man nor the Austrian reply 70 Bene-
dict contains one definite suggestion
and 1t is not felt that they bring the
peace OF the world one whit nearer.
Stress slid upon the kaiser as a
ruler. animated at all times by pacific
motives and doing all in his power
TO avert war, but in no sentence of
the reply of Germany is the one word
spoken which may mean peace. Rep
aration sticks in the throat OF the
German emperor.
A Peace Lover. Was war Lord.
The reply OF Germany il signed by
DR.. Michaelis and Is addressed TO the
papal secretary of state. DR.. Mi
chaeiis declares that the kaiser has
followed the papal effort for peace
with "A lively desire that for the bene-
fit of the whole world It NAV meet
with success. The interest of the kali
ser is declared to be accumulated by
reason of the fact that since his tax
Ing over the government he has re-
garded It as his most sacred duty to
preserve the blessings OF peace for
the German people and the world
He declares that the kaiser has by
his acts fulfilled the promises made
in his speech to the reichstag on June
%, 1899. that his love for the Ger
man army and his position toward II
should never lead him into war un-
less war were a necessity.
The present war. the note declares.
IL contrary to the desires of the kaiser
and 1t is declared that the kaiser, with
his allies. was the first to declare a.
readiness to rnaks peace
The German Aspiration.
Declaring that Germany has sought
only @tthjn her national frontier the
free development of her spiritual and
material possessions. and unhindered
competition and the free play of forces
In the world In peacable wrestling.
which would lead to the highest per-
fecting of the noblest human posses
sions, the hope Is expressed that a
basis for just and lasting peace may
be found
For Limitation Of Armament.
Limitation OF ornaments on land
and sea and In the air is favored and
the settlement of all disputes between
nations by arbitration Is favored. The
imperial government Will support ev-
cry proposal compatible with the vital
interests of the German empire and
people in this respect. is the chancel-
lor's statement
Peace Is declared to be vital to Ger
many due to her geographical posi-
ton No people, 1t Is declared. has
more reason than the Germans to
wish to live in amity with their neigh
hors, and wish is expressed that, in
stead OF hatred and battle. a con-
ciiiftory spirit shall prevail between
the nations.
The Austrian reply is signed by En-
peror Charles and is addressed d.
rectly to the pope. 1t agrees with
the papal peace program, declares that
the monarch is the firm friend of
peace, and declares for compulsory
arbitration.
Vatican Against Conscrfption.
From Rome today came two sig
nihcant dispatches dealing with the
vaeican's ideas on peace. One quoted
Cardinal Gasparri. the papal secre-
tary OF state, as emphasizing the vati-
cans uncompromising opposition to
CONSUMPTION as the chief evil under
lying this and other wars The salt
ent point In the pontiff's program for
permanent peace. the cardinal is rep
resented as explaining. is a general
boycott of whatever nation revives
conscription. which he means 10 sup
press. Such a .boycott-presuma
economie--wouid be imposed also
upon any nation that in future will
refuse to submit to and abide BY In
ternational arbitration unoer the pa
pal plan.
These views were ELECTED from the
cardinal in reply to questions regard
Ing significant article in the Milan
Italia. In 1t the vatican is repre-
scented as aiming at making Prussian
militarism thing of the past by iu-
Guiding In the peace treaty a clause
for aisting disarmament by Germany.
such disarmament of course, to be
asked of all other beliigerents as we'll
The second Rome dispatch quotes the
seYni-o cial Cofriere D'Italia as in
terpreting the pope's peace aims In a
manner entirely favorable to the ex-
pressed terms of the entente allies
The paper says the pontiffs desires:
Restoration of Belgium to complete
Independence and restitution for oc-
cupied territories.
Restoration OF Alsace- Lorraine TO
France.
Italy to obtain all irridentist lands
A free Poland and free Armenia
international compromise on the
Balkan problems.