The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-08-29
-N-~.~ VI State Library
Mu u MONTPELIER
REJECTS THE
POPE'S PLAN
viii Not Make Peace on the
Basis Proposed
CAN'T TRUST ENEMY
So Long az German Autocraey Is In
the Saddle In Germany the
War Must Go On.

President Wilson has rejected the
pope's peace proposals. In a note
dispatched Monday night, and made
public at Washington last night, the
president says that while every heart
not blinded and hardened by the ter
rible war must be touched by the
moving appeal OF his holiness, 1t
would be folly to take the path of
peace he points out, If it does not in
fact lead to the goal he proposes.
The presidents note to the pope is
as follows:
August 27, 1917, To His Holiness,
Benedictus XIV, Pope
"In acknowledgment Of the com
munication of your holiness to the
belligerent peoples, dated August l,
1917, the president of the United
States requests 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 and dignity and force OF
the humane and generous motives
which prompted it, and must fervent-
ly wish that we might take the path
of peace he 81 persuasiyely points
out. Bu . 9.uuld be folly to take II
IL 1t does not in fact lead TO the goal
he proposes Our response must be
based upon the stern facts aud upon
ssBotnIng else. ~ Is nO5ra mere cess
sution of arms he desires; 1t is a
stable and enduring peace. This
agony must not be gone through with
again, and 1t must be matter of
very sober judgment what will insure
us against 1t.
''His holiness in substance proposes
that we return to the status quoante
bellum, and that then there be a
general condonation, disarmament
and a concert of nations, based upon
an acceptance of the principle of ar
bitration; that by similar concert
freedom of the seas be established;
and that the territorial claims of
France and Italy, the perplexlng prob
lens of the Balkan states, and the re-
stitution of Poland be left to such
conciliatory adjustments as may bi
possible in the new temper of such a
peace, due regard being paid to the
aspirations Of the peoples whose poll
tical fortunes and affiliations will be
involved. 1t Is manifest that no part
of this program can be successfully
carried out unless the restitution OF
the status quo ante furnishes firm
and satisfactory basis for it. The
object of this war is to deliver the
free peoples of the world from tho
menace and the actual power of {
vast military establishment controlled
by an irresponsible government
which, having secretly planned t
dominate the world, proceeded t
carry the plan out without regart
either to the sacred obligations o
treaty or the long-established praC
tces and long-cherished principle o
international action and honor; whicl
chose its own time for the war; dc
llvered its blow fiercely and sudden
~ blOUUtu dt IO UdIIltlf tlli0i "
law or mercy; swept a whole cont
nent within the tide of blood,-not tn
blood of soldiers only, but the bloc
of innocent women and children ais
and OF the helpless poor; and no'
stands balked but not defeated, tn
enemy of four-fifths of the worlt
This power is not the German peopl,
II is the ruthless master of the Ge
man people. II is no business of our
how that great people came under II
control or submitted with temporar
zest TO the domination of its pu
pose; but II is our business to SEQ
Il that the history of the rest of IL
world is no longer left to its han
ling.
ITO deal with such q power by wt
of peace upon the plan proposed
his holiness the pope would, so far
we can see, involve recuperation
its strength and renewal of
policy; would make IL necessary
create permanent hostile combln
tlon OF nations against the GermI
people, who are its instruments; al
would result in abandoning the ne
manifold subtle Interference, and {
born Russia to the intrigue, {
certain counterrevolution viii
would be attempted by all the mali
influences to which the German e
ernment has of late accustomed {
world. Can peace be based upon
restitution of its power or upon a
word OF honor It could pledge in
treaty Of settlement and accommo,
ton?
Responsible statesmen must n,