The diamond drill., 1917-09-01

Replies TO Pope's Peace Proposal In
Courteous Bat UnmisthkabIe Terms.


keeping with the other important and
highly creditable papers OF state that
President Wilson has issued during
this war.
In the message President Wilson
makes clear that the United States is
willing to talk peace when such a
government is In power in Germany
as will be responsible to the people
Of that country Thus, he leaves the
door open for further peace parley
when conditions are such in Germany
that the people OF the United States
and other nations can depened upon
the assurances given.
The complete text OF the presidents
reply is as follows:
Washington, d. c., Aug. 81, 1917.
To His Holiness, Benedietus XIV.
Pope
I'm acknowledgment OF the com
munication OF Your Holiness to the
belligerent peoples, dated August /,
1917 the President OF the United
States requests me to transmit the
following reply.
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must feel the dignity and force
of the humane and generous motives
which prompted II, and most feryent-
ly wish that we might take the path
OF peace he so persuasively points
out But il would be folly to take u
II it does not, in fact, lead to the goal
he proposes. Our response must be
based upon the stern facts, and upon
nothing else. II is not mere oessa-
tion OF arms he desires, IL is stable
and enduring peace. This agony must
not be gone through with again, and
il must be a matter OF very sober
judgment what will insure US against
it..
His Holiness, in substance, pro-
poses that We return to the Status
Quo Ante Bellum, and that then there
be a general conformation, disarma
ment and a concert OF nations, based
upon an acceptance Of the principle OF
arbitration; that by similar concert
! freedom OF the seas be established.
and that the territorial claims OF
France and Italy, the perplexing prob
lens OF the Balkan states and the res
| titution Of Poland be left to such con-
ciliatory adjustments as may be pos
sible in the new temper Of such a
peace; due regard being paid to the
without regard either to the sacred
tical fortunes and affiliations will be
| involved
1T is manifest that no part of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the sta
tus Quo Ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for IT, The object
Of this war Is 70 deliver the free peo-
pies Of the world from the menace
and the actually power of vast mill
tary establishment, controlled by an
irresponsible government, which, hav-
ing secretly planned to dominate the
world, proceeded to carry out the plan
aspirations of the people whose poll
obligations OF treaty or the long es-
tablished practices and long cherish
ed principles OF international action.
and honor; which choose its own time
for the war; delivered its blow fierce
lly and suddenly; stopped at no bar
rier OF law or OF mercy; swept a whole
continent within the tide OF blood
not the blood OF soldiers only, but the
also, and OF the helpless poor, and
now stands baked, but not defeated,
the enemy OF four-ffths OF the world
This power is not the German people
It Is the ruthless master Of the Ger
man people. IL Is no business OF ours
how that people came under its con
troll, or submitted with temporary
zest to the domination Of it's pur-
pose; but 1t Is our business TO see %
Il that the history OF the rest OF the
/ world is no lonser left to is handling
"To deal with such a power by way
OF peace upon the plan proposed by
His Holiness the Pope. would. so far
as We can see. involve a recuperation
OF It's strength and renewal Of its
policy; would make IL necessary to
create a permanent hostile combina
ton OF nations against the German
people. who are its instruments; and
would result in abandoning the new