The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-16
Pope Pleads For End OF
Hostilities For Sake
OF Humanity
VATICAN HAS NO
POLITICAL AIM
First Step Must Be To Es-
tablish Supremacy OF
Right
(Ry Associated Press.l

London, Aug. 1.-THE foreign Of
fce last night issued the French text
of the letter from the pope to the
king, enclosing copy OF his appeal
to the heads Of the belligerent peo-
pie:
Your majesty:
THE Holy Father, anxious to do
everything he can in order to put an
end to the conflict which for the last
three years has ravaged the civilized
world, has decided to submit to the
leaders Of the belligerent peoples
concrete peace proposals exposed in
a document which I have the honor
to attach to this letter. May God
grant that the words of His Holiness
will this time produce the desired
effect for the good Of the whole of
humanity.
THE Holy See not having diplo-
matte relations with the French gov
ernment or with the government of
Italy or the United States, very
respectfully beg your majesty to be
good enough to have handed copy
of his holiness appeal to the presi-
dent of the French republic, to his
majesty the king Of Italy, and to the
president of the United States. al
so beg to add twelve other copies
which request your majesty to be
good enough to hand to the leaders
OF the nations friendly to the allies,
with the exception, however, OF Rus
sia, Belgium and Brazil, to whom the
document has been sent direct.
'Hn expressing to your majesty my
sincere thanks for this extreme
kindness I am happy 10 take the op-
portunity to offer you the homage Of
sentiment, very profound respect
with which / have the honor to sign
myself, your majesty's very humble
and devoted servant,
....,.l-. (signed) "Gasparri".
Text Of Letter.
The appeal follows:
ITO the leaders of the belligerent
people: ..-... .a
Since the beginning OF our ponti-
flcate the horrors OF a terrible war
have been, let loose on Europe and
we have iTi view above everything
three things to- preserve: Perfect
impartiality towaF14 all be1Ifgerents
as Ii suitable. for him who Is the
common father and who loves all his
children with equal affection. Con-
tinualiy to attempt to do all the good
possible and that without exception
of person, without distinction of ma.
tionality OF religion as is dictated to
US by the universal law OF charity
which the supreme spiritual charge
has confided to us with Christ. Fin
ally, as our pacific mission also re-
quires to omit nothing as long as ii
was in our power which might con-
tribute to hasten the end OF this
calamity by trying to lead people and
their. leaders, to more moderate reso-
luton. to. hasten a serene delibera-
tion of peace. just and durable.
Whoever has folioWd our work
during those three painful years
which have just passed, has been
able easily to recognize that If we
had always remained faithful to our
resolve. of absolute impartiality and
to our attitude of beneVolence, we
have not ceased to exhort the peoples
and the belligerent brothers again to
become brethren although publicity
has not been given to all that we
have done to attain this very noble
aim.
Toward the end of the first year
of the war we addressed to the ma
tions in conflict most lively exhorta-
tions and more we indicated the part
to be followed to arrive at a stable
and honorable peace for all. Unfor-
tunately our appeal was not heard
and we continued desperately. for an
other two years with all its horrors.
1t became, even more cruel and ex-
tended over the earth, over the sea
Continued on mage five.