Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-18

ditions, which his holiness, Pope
bencdict XIV. believes may form
the basis of world peace, have been
forwarded to the rulers Of all nations.
Tho pope. in outlining these condi.
lions. makes new and general appcal
for the restoration of peace.
An unofficial outline which has boen
received discloscs that the pontiT In.
cludes In his suggestions principles for
which President Wilson, in the past,
has declared.
among the proposals are reduction
or ornaments, freedom Of the seas. and
that there shall be no retaliatorv strup.
gle after the war for world commercial
supremacy. These are regarded as
the foundation stones Of the popc's
plan.
The Dope's proposal declares the IN.
1urics to all bclligercnts have been 50
great, there should be no thought of
roparation except for tho return ~
territory.
Unqualified approval Of President
wilson's plan to avoid future wars by
an international organization which
shall have behind 1t power to enforce
Its Judgments, Is given.
included In the restoration of ter.
rltory, the pope's proposal insists.
should be the return to Germany OF alI
colonies, rs we'll as the complete res.
torauon OF Belgium to nor sovereign.
ty.
Although special efforts are being
made to facilitate It's transmission 10
'ne united states, this may not be
erected for n day or two.
Meanwhile. an accurate outline Of
the principal points Of the communica.
ton is In the hands OF the government
Already it has received thoughtful con.
sidcration.
In eloquent language TIVE pontiff de.
scr1DeS the terrible conditions existing
In Europe. Europe, he says, ia head.
ed Tor destruction unless the bcllirer.
ents Will listen to the appeals of dis.
interested friends to cease a suicidal
war.
Such conditions, the pope feels. am.
ply justify him in taking the present
opportunity to suggest what NAV be
nc hopes at least foundation upon
which peace negotiations may be
started.
1t is 1nconceivable. the pope holds,
that permanent peace can be maintain.
ca unless the various peoples are will.
ing to gather in an amity founded upon
recognition of national rights.
ANY attempt to prevent free econom.
lie election between the bclligcrents
the pope points out, would be disast.
lhnrnfnrn hn al
be freedom Of the seas in all that tho
term implies.
In spirit Of cancellation and lust.
ice, he says. all the bclligcrents must
submit to accept the losses they lave
sustained. except in the matter of ter.
ritory. Beside the questions of indem.
nifty and reparaton, tho pope saws,
there must be no continuation of the
war by an economic struggle for su.
premacy thereafter, which would be
purely evil.
This refers directly to the socalled
Paris economic conference. which was
followed by one Vienna, where tho
effort was made to bind the belliger,
ents on either side after the war to
have virtually no commercial relations
with their late enemies.
On the disposition OF occupied for
ritory. and territorial ambitions of the
belligcrents, the pope. by way Of pref
ace, admits special cases might Justify
special consideration and still be adj.
jkstcd in conformity with the prin,
ciples OF equity and Justice.
AS general proposition, he feels n
the restoration at once OF all tcrrit DRY
now in enemy occupation. That would
involve liberation OF Belgium, leaving
not n trace of German control political
or military. The same principle of nm.
encumbercd freedom in it's full sense,
he says, should prevail in regard to
every power and nation.
Not only must French territory now
occupied by German be restored 10
France. he says, but all German colo.
MES which have been occupied by
England. PORTUGAL. Belgium and Japon
should he returned to Germany.
The mere diflicult question OF italia
Irrcdcnta. the pope thinks. should be
examined In spirit OF cancellation,
and that special consideration should
be given to national aspirations.
>. Likewise tho pore holds that the
complex Questions Involved In read.
justmcni OF the H"nkan states should
be cOr:il"rcd n The samn spirit Of
equity and i"Sficc. He he's respectfully
In mind Armenia, The balkans and
Poland.
The mtimation conv~yc1 s that
u