The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-22
@Compatible With Vital Inter-
ests of German Empire"
Recognizes High Peace Produc-
ing Effect of Arbitration.
KAISER EVER "PEACE ANGEL"
Always Avoided War Unless
Empire Was Attacked.
'tWar Broke Out Against His
Wishes" Asserts Message.


reply to Pope Benedict's peace pro-
posaI declares special measures taken
by the government in closest contact
with the representatives of the Ger
man people to discuss answering the
question raised, prove how earnestly
il desires to find a practical basis for
a just and lasting peace.
Continuing the reply says that Ger
many, fully recognizes with his holt
ness the high peace producing effect
Of arbitration to decide international
differences of opinion and in this re-
spect Germany is ready to support
every proposal compatible with the vi
tai interests of the German empire
and people.
The German reply says that the i'm
perial government greets with special
sympathy the leading idea in which
his holiness clearly expresses the con-
viction that the future material pow
err of arms must be superseded by the
moral power of right.
The Kaiser's Reply.
The text of the reply reads:
Herr Cardinal:
Your eminence has been good
enough, together with your letter of
August 2. to transmit to the kaiser
and king. my most gracious master,
the note of his holiness, the pope, in
which his holiness, filled with grief
at the devastations of the world war
makes an emphatic peace appeal to
the heads of the belligerent peoples.
The kaiser-king has deigned to ac-
quaint men with your eminence's let
ter and to entrust the reply to me.
His majesty has been following for
a considerable time, with high re-
spect and sincere gratitude, his holt
ness efforts in a spirit Of true i'm
Partially to alleviate, as far as pos
s.ble. the sufferings of the war and to
hasten the end of hostilities. The
kaiser sees in the latest step of his
holiness fresh proof of his noble and
humane feelings and cherishes a live
" desire that for the benefit of the
entire world 'the papal appeal may
meet with success.
Kaiser for World Peace.
1.-The effort of Pope Benedict is to
pave the way to an understanding
amongst all peoples and might more
surely reckon on a sympathetic re-
ception and the whole hearted sup
port from his majesty, seeing that the
kaiser since taking over the govern
ment, has regarded it as his principal
and most sacred task to preserve the
blessings of peace for the German
people and the world. In his first
speech from the throne at the open
ing of the German reichstag on June
%, 1855, the kaiser promised that his
love of the German army and his
HRoAAAoil lpNdIQ never lead
him into temptation to cut short the
benefits of peace unless war were a
necessity forced on us by an attack
on the empire or its allies
THE German army should safe
guard peace for us and should peace,
nevertheless, be broken it would be
in position to win it with honor.
The Kaiser has. by his acts, fulfilled
the promise he then made in 26 years
OF happy rule. despite provocations
and temptations.
Tried to Prevent War.
I'm the crisis which led to the
present world conflagration his mai
esty's efforts were up to the last mo-
ment directed toward settling the
conflict by peaceful means. After
the war had broken out against his
wishes and desires, the kaiser, in con-
junction with his high allies, was the
first solemnly TO declare his readiness
to enter into peace negotiations The
German people supported his majesty
in his keen desire for peace
Germany sought within her ma
tonal frontier the free development
OF her spiritual and material POSSES
sions and outside the Imperial terri
tory unhindered competition with ma
tons enjoying equal rights and equal
esteem. The free play of forces in
the world in peaceable wrestling
highest perfecting of the noblest hui
man principles. Disastrous events in
the year 1914 absolutely broke off
all hopeful course of development and
transformed Europe into a bloody
battle arena.
"Appreciating the Importance OF
his holiness's declaration the imper-
ial government has not failed to sub
NIT the suggestion contained therein
to earnest and scrupulous examina.
ton.
Special measures which the gov.
eminent has taken in closest conta CT
with representatives of the German
people for discussing and answering
the questions raised prove how earn.
estly II desires, in accordance with His
Holiness's desires and the peace reso.
luton OF the reichstag on July 10, Il
find a practical basis for lust and
lasting peace
Recognized Moral Power of Right.
THE imperial government greet.
with special sympathy the leadinl
Idea of the peace appeal wherein Hi
Holiness clearly expresses the convic
ton that in the future the maueria
power of arms must be superseded b,
the moral power OF right. We ar,
also convinced that the sick bod,
OF human society can be healed onll
By fortifying its moral strength o
right. From this would follow, &C
cording to His Holiness's view, tn
simultaneous dfminution of the arme,
forces Of all states and the institution
OF obligatory arbitration for interna
tional disputes.
I'VE share His Holiness's view tina
definite rul and a certain safeguar
Tor a simultaneous and reciprocal
limitation of ornaments on land, OF
sea aid in the air. as well as for tn
true freedom of the community an
high seas, are the things, in treatin
which the new spirit that in the flu
ture should prevail in internatnona
relations. should find first hopeful
expression The task would then o
itself arise to decide International diff
ferences of opinion, not by the use o
armed forces but by peaceful meth
DDS. especially by arbitratA~- '-A'a as