The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-29

The text of the note follows: ITO His Holiness, Benedictus XV Pope:
 "In acknowledgement of the communication of your holiness to the belligerent peoples, dated August 1, 1917, the President of the United States requests me to trans init the following reply:
 Every heart that has not been blinded and hardened by this terri ble war must be touched by this moving appeal of his holiness, the pope; must feel the dignity and. force of the humane and generous motives which prompted it. and filest fervently wish that we might take the path of peace he so per suasively 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 upon the stern facts and upon nothing else. It 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 it.
 PROPOSAL IN SUBSTANCE
 His holiness in substance pro- poses that we return to the status quo ante-bel1um, and that then there be general conformation, disarmament, and concert of na- tions based upon an acceptance or the principle of arbitration; that bv a similar concert freedom of the seas be established; and that the territorial claims of France and
 Y, the perplexing problems of
 Balkan states, and the restitu-
 of Poland be left to such con iatory adjustments as may be bssible of the peoples whose poli- ticaI fortunes and affiliations will e involved.
 OBJECT OF WAR
 AIt is manifest thnt no part Of
 programme can be successful
 carried out unless the restitu-
 of the status quo ante-bel-
 furnishes firm and satisfac-
 V basis for 1t. The object of
 war is to deliver the free
 pIes of the world from the mem
 and the actual power of a vast
 Itary establishment controlled
 an Irresponsible government
 tr dominate the world. proceeded to earry the plan out without re- gard either to the sacred Obliga- ti0ns of treaty or the long esta lished practices and long cherisht principles of international actiO and honor, which chose it's owl time for the war. delivered its blow fiercely and suddenly, stopped Ut no barrier either of law or of mercy, swept a whole continent within the tide of bIood-not the blood of soldiers only, hut the dren also, and of the helpless poor. and now stands baked but not de- ' feated. the enemy of four-ffths of the world. This power Is not the German people. 1t Is the ruthless muHter of the German people. It is no business of ours how that great people came under its control or suhmitted with temporary xcst to the domination of it's purpose. but
 is our business to see to 1t that history of tIc rext of the wArld IS no longer left to It's hand lfng.
 WOULD RENEW PRUSSIANISM ITO deal with such d power by fay of peace upon the plan pro- bosed by his holiness tiie pope would, so far as we can see in- volve recuperation of its strength and renewal of it's policy; would make 1t necessary to create per manent hostile combination of na- tions against the German people, who are it's instruments; and would result in abandoning the new born \Russia to the intrigue, the mani Hold subtle Interference, and the certain counter revolution which you'd be attempted by all the nalign influences to which the German government has of