Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-09-05
President Unable to Accept
Kaiser'S Word.
LEAVES THE ROAD OPEN
Wilson Declares America Must Con
y tinue to Fight Until 1t is Satisfied
Peace Treaty Means More
Than "Scrap of Paper" to
Be Torn by Germany's
Rulers at Will.


Wilson rejected the peace proposals
of Pope Benedict XIV at this time.
In note sent the pope, he
declared, that the United States
must continue to fight until it is salts
fed that peace treaty would be more
than another scrap of paper to be
torn by Germany's rulers at will.
While the presidents note is re-
lection of peace at this time, 1t leaves
sion and proposals.
1--WE cannot take the word of the
present rulers of Germany as a guar
antee of anything that is to endure"
he says. And later he adds:
I'VE must await some new evidence
of the purposes of the great peoples
of the central empires. God grant it
may be given soon and in a way to
restore the confidence of all peoples
everywhere in the faith of nations and
the possibility of a covenanted peace"
President Wilson declares fatty
against an economic war after the war,
against annexations or indemnities
ment to Belgium and the return Of
Alsace-LOrraine to France.
Text of Wilson's Reply to Pope
Aug. q, 1917.
'"TO His Holiness, Benedictus XIV,
Pope.
'In acknowledgment of the commu-
nication of your holiness to the bellig-
the president of the United States re-
quests me to transmit the following
reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must be touched by this moving
appeal of his holiness the pope, must
feel the dignity and force of the hu-
mane 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 it If
it does not, in fact lead to the goal he
proposes. Our response must be based
else. -.sss,s7o-,,,,-,,.
y ut is not a mere cessation of arms
he desires; it is stable and enduring
peace. This agony must not be gone
Through with again, and it must be a
matter of very sober judgment what
will insure US against 1t.
His holiness in substance proposes
that We return to the status quo ante
ibellum, and that then there be a gem
eral conformation, disarmament, and a
concert of nations, based upon an ac-
ceptance of the principle of arbitra-
ton; that by a similar concert free
dom of the seas be established; and
that the territorial claims of France
and Italy, the perplexing problems of
the Balkan states, and the restitution
of Poland be left to such conciIiatory
adjustments as may be possible in
the new temper of such a peace, due
regard being paid to the aspirations of
the people whose political fortunes
and affiliations will be involved.
Puts Blame on the Kaiser.
1T is manifest that no part of this
program be successfully carried out
unless the restitution of the status quo
ante furnishes a firm and satisfactory
basis for it.
THE object of this war is to deliver
the free peoples of the world from the
menace and the actual power of vast
military establishment, controlled by
an irresponsible government which,
having secretly planned to dominate
the world, proceeded to carry the plan
out without regard either TO the sa-
cred obligations of treaty or the long
established practices and long-cherished
principles If international action and
honor which chose its own time for the
war; delivered its blow fiercely and
suddenly stopped at no barrier either
of law or of mercy; swept whole
sentiment within the tide of blood. not
the blood of soldiers only, but the
blood of innocent women and children
also, and of the helpless poor; and
now stands baked but not defeated
THE enemy of four-fifths of the world
This power is not the German peo-
pile. 1t is the ruthless master of the
German people. 1t is no business OF
ours how that great people came un-
der its control or submitted with tenn
porary zest to the domination of its
purpose; but it is our business to see
10 it that the history of the rest OF
the world is no longer left to its han
ding.
No Reprisal on German People,
ITO 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 q recuperation of Its
strength and a renewal of its policy
would make it necessary to create a
permanent hostile combination of ma.
tons against the German people, who
are its instruments; and would result
in abandoning the newborn Russia te
! -