South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-22
uternational News Service


International News Service.
WASHINGTON. sept. p Pops
BeneoictS next peace move wiz 81
initiated within the next two weeks.
HiGh Catholic circles furnished this
Information today Acceptance b.
Austria and Germany OF the propo-
sitions set forward 1y his holmes
as basis 20 open negotiations has
Joined the ISSUES
The nature of the pope's action
has not been forecast here Il is
known that Great Britain asked the
vatican for certain information
concerning lis plans. and that this
information was in mrn sought from
Berlin Whether the reply Is con
tanned in the German peace repiy
is not known here
Wide Differences.
As has been pointed out ID these
dispatches ever since Pres't Wilson,
reply 10 the yatiCan's proposals. |
pope Benedict has been iu constant
consultation with Herr Matthias
Erzberger. leader OF the Catholic
party of the German reichstag. and
with the heads OF the Catholic
church in Austria Hungary and Ger
many. He has been working to de-
velop a method of reoonqkiu9 the
wide differences tina. now en-
phasized with the publicatiP or the
Austrian and German reTfies
Pope As Surety
His chief concern OF course. ne
been the fiat statement OF Priest
Wilson that under no circumstances
could peace be discussed in any way
with the German government a.
now organized because there YES
no method of compelling 30 90 keep
its promises.
IL is known that church dignitar-
les in this country. Great Britain
and France have sounded ont the
governments To md our how far
they would be- willing 20 ACCEPT the
pope himself as surety keeping
any promises that might be made
by the central powers 20 assure the
holding OF a peace conference. The
pope il d. pointed out can a5so-
lutely pledge Austria 20 any policy
that he may desire. and that Aus
tria still is In a position 20 compel
German acceptance or such
policy
Replies Are known
The twin replies OF the central
powers have not greatly Impressed
officials here as il had been gem
orally accepted that they would fol
low the lines set forth Emperor
Charles. Of Austria however has
gone farther than had been ar-
ucipated iu his espousal ~ the prop
osltion To- submit international die
putcs 20 compulsor1 arbitration.
This more than snv other state
ment ir the reply has Emphasized
ir officials and diplomatic circles
here the belief that Austria realzeF
at last that it must have peace no
matter what concession are made
TO tbe enemy 90 assure it
No Statement by Lansing.
~ec'E OF state Lanzluz early TODAY
declined go discuss the German or
Austrian replies in any wav He
said that be had nor SGT read The
unoficial copies AS se- forth bon the
morning papers II was very un-
likely. however. thst anv Official
statement would boz made on the
subject. irasuuch as 10 now was
certain that the pope would again
address rhc heTieerenfs ON me sun-
iec- OF peace
Generally speaking administrator
officials took the position that ne
peace replies % the central powers
have r no wav changed the situa
-tor Iu fact there is very much
more interest .r ofncial circles In
what VIII transplre a. The session
~. the reichstar when D. reconvsnes
next "wednesday than in ne 0ficial