The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-14
Suggests Restoration of Bel
GUM, Serbia, Rumania.
Leave Alsace-Lorraine, Poland
to Peaceful Settlement.
SEE IN IT GERMAN MOVE
Entente Diplomats at Washing
ton Say Kaiser Inspired 1t.
Attempt to Split Allies by Dis
cussion of Conflicting Aims.

Rome, Aug. 14.-Peace proposals
made by Pope Benedict have been de-
I,vered to all the belligerent powers-
The pope suggests restoration of
Belgium. Serbia and Rumania anc
peaceful solution of the problems Of
Alsace-Lorraine, Trent, Triest and
Poland, according to reports received
from vatican sources. 1t is exps-eed
he proposal will be published today
ly the vatican.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE state de-
partment acknowledges that it has
received unofficial knowledge of Pope
Benedict's peace proposals before to-
days news dispatches were received
here. No official cognizance can be
taken of ii until the proposal is con-
veyed officially.
Whatever consideration Is given TO
it will be after consultation with the
allies.
AT the apostolic delegation all
knowledge of the pope's pro posal was
disciaimed- It was said the papal del
egate had not transmitted IT to the
expect TO do So The opir.,on wasex-
pressed that ii would cone thru a
neutral government.
Within the entente diplomatic cir
Gle the opinion was freely AID prompt
w expressed that the peace proposal
I
attempt to split the allies in con-
flicting discussion of their war aims.
Pope's First Peace Move.
The extent Of the state departments
information does not indicate thru
what channel the proposal will be
conveyed and gives no Information
from which an inference might be
drawn as to whether it will come thru
one of the allied governments or thru
a dignitary of the church
Officials were unusually explicit IN
saying that it could not be discussed
until it came officially before the gov
eminent and were emphatic in declar-
ing that no statement whatever could
I be represented as reflectfrg the off
cial view.
If an inference might be drawn
from the under currents which were
started in official circles by the report
a trained observer would venture the
, opinion that the proposal is one which
would be discussed in good faith by
the allies but that it does not meet
their war aims 1t was indicated that
a peace proposal coming from the
pope-the first actual proposal of the
! kind to come from the vatican-would
necessarily have to be considered
carefully and deliberately and that an
answer convincing to the world would
necessarily have to be made
/ How far the peace proposal reflects
the close relationship of the vatican
with Austria whose earnest desire for
peace despite German Influence is well
known. or how far IL reflects the Cath
Ole agitation for peace in Germany
no one here would venture to say. II
was recalled. however. that Leading
Catholics were prominent figures IN
( the recent peace furry in Germany.
Message Asks Tcrn-s.
London. Aug 14.-Thefe has been
great diplomatic activity recently at
the papal secretariat. numerous dfplo-
I mats having long interviews with Car
/ dinal Gasparrf. fpapal secretary OF
state). the Rome correspondent of the
Exchange Telegraph company cables
II am able 10 announce that the
/ Holy See has addressed note to bel
/, ligerents and neutrals- The note makes
| a new and formal appeal for peace.
I II invites the belligerents 70 state their
I conditions in concrete terms so as to
/ facilitate a preliminary understands
ing"
Asks s.Status Quo Ante BeiIum.-
The outline of the vatican's peace
proposals received here demands the
restoration of all German colonies to
Germany. Summed up. the proposals
are for a restoration of the status quo
/ ante bellum with all questions as TO the
readjustment of frontiers to be left to
underlined sast1fEeuuoue