Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-09-06

otiSW Ills IL tuc lult
text Of the note in which President
Wilson tells Pope Benedict the United
States can enter into no peace negoti-
atiOns looking toward the restoration
of the status quo ante bellum. and
lit would be folly to take the path of
peace" II it does not lead to the goal
pointed out by His Holiness:
To His Holiness. Benedict Nv, Pope:
In acknowledgment of the commu.
nication Of Your Holiness to the bel
ligerent peoples, dated Aug. l. 1917.
the president of the United States re-
quests me to transmit the following
reply:
Every heart that has not been blind.
ed and hardened by this terrible wal
must be touched by this moving ap-
peal Of His Holiness: the pope must
feel the dignity and forces Of the hu.
name and generous motives which
prompted It and must fervently wish
that we might take the path Of peace
he so persuasively points out.
But it would be folly to take 1t il it
does not. in fact, lead to the goal he
proposes. Our response must be based
upon the stern facts and upon moth
ing else. 1t Is not a mere cessation OF
arms he desires; it is a stable and en-.
during peace. This agony must not
be gone through with again and it
must be a matter of very sober judy
ment what will insure us against it.
His Holiness In substance proposes
that We return to the status quo ante
bellum, and that then there be a gen
eral conformation, disarmament and a
concert Of nations. based upon accept
ance Of the principle OF arbitration,
that by a similar concert freedom OF
the seas be established, and that the
territorial claims of France and Italy
the p~erpleXing problems Of the Bal
kan states and the restitution of Pc
land be left to such conciliatory ad
justments as may be possible in the
new temper of such a peace. due re
gard being paid to the aspirations o.
the peoples whose political 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 statu.
quo ante bellum furnishes a firm ant
satisfactory basis for it. The objec
of this war is to deliver the free peo
pies of the world from the menace
and the actual power OF a vast mill
tary establishment controlled by al
irresponsible government. which; hav
5 ing secretly planned to dominate tn
world, proceeded to carry the plan on
without regard either to the sacre'
!, obligations OF treaty or the long-estat
! lished practices and long cherishe
principles of international action an
. honor; which chose its own time 10
the war. delivered its blow fiercel
:. and suddenly. stopped at no barrie
either of law or Of mercy; swept
whole continent within the tide {
blood--not the blood of soldiers onl!
but the blood OF innocent m an
children also. and OF the helpless poe
= and now stands baked. but not d
feated. the enemy Of four'fifths of tn
world. This power is not the &c
Ct man people. 1t is the ruthless ma
q ter OF the German people. 1t Is n
business OF ours how that great pc
q pie came under its control or submit
!. ted with temporary zest to the dom
d nation Of its purpose: but it is o,
: business to see to 1t that the histoi
of the rest of the world is no long
left to Its handling.
To deal with such q pcw-r ~ w
N Of peace upon the plan proro5ed |
@ His Holiness, the pope, would, co Il
r. as We can see. involve a r%ecuperatit
d Of its strength and n renewal Of !
policy; would make it necessary
create q permanent hostile combin
ton OF nations against the Germ'
people, who are its instruments; al
would result In abandoning the NJ
n born Russia to the intrigue, tie ma
r. fold subtle interferences and the C,
tain counter.revolution which won
be attempted by all the malign ina
ences to which the German govel
ment has of late accustomed t
,e world. Can peace BE- based upon
,e restitution Of It's power or upon a
in word Of honor 1t could pledge in
I'd treaty Of settlement AMI accommot
IN tion?
Responsible statesmen must NJ
everywhere see. IL they never saw
fore, that no peace ran rest secure
es upon political or economic restrictio
or meant to benefit some nations a
es cripple or embarrass others. upon '
Is, dictive action Of any sort. or any XII
No Distinction.
Is there any place where a m
Of honestly believes a woman ID
la. cqual?"
ia. Certainly. The tax Office"