Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-16

though publicity has not been given to
all that we have done to attain this
very noble aim.
HToward the end of the first year of
the war we addressed to the nations in
conflict most lively exhortations, and
more, we indicated the part to be fol
lowed to arrive at stable and honor
able peace for all. Unfortunately our
appeal was not heard and the war con-
tinued desperately for another two
years with all it's horrors. lie became
even more cruel and extended over the
earth, over the sea and in the air, and
one saw desolation ana death descend
upon the cities without defense, upor
peaceful villages and on their innocent
population, and now no one can imagine
how the sufferings Of all would be in
creased and aggravated if other months,
or, worse still, other years, are about
to be added to this sanguinary trien-
mum.
World Field of Death.
.It this civilized world to be nothing
more than field of death? And Europe
so glorious and so flourishipg, is it 60
ing as if stricken by a universal mad
ness to run to the abyss and to lend
its hand to its own suicide?
GIN such a terrible situation as in the
presence of menace so serious, we who
have no particular political aim, who
do not listen to suggestions or to the
interests of any of the belligerent par
ties but are solely compelled by sem
timent of our supreme duty as the com
mon father of the faithful, by the so
oh who iYpnl0r0
our intervention and our paclfylng
work.
"eThrough the voice even of humanity
and of reason we once more emit tho
cry of peace and we renew pressing
appeal to those who hold in their hands
the destinies of nations. But in order no
longer to speak in general terms as the
circumstances had counselled us In the
past, we now wish to make more con-
crete and practical proposals and to in
vite the governments of the belligerent
peoples to come to an agreement upon
the following points, which seem to be
basis of Just and durable peace,
leaving to them the task of analyzing
and completing them.
Substitute Force of Right.
"fFirst of all, the fundamental points
must be that the material force of arms
be substituted by the moral force of
right, from which shall arise fair
agreement by all for the simultaneous
and reciprocal diminution of arma-
ments according to the rules and guar
antees to be established in a measure
necessary and sufficient for the main
tenance of public order in each state.
Then in the substitution for armies the
institution Of arbitration with It's hlgh
/ Lacifying function, according to the
rules to be laid down and the penal
ties to be imposed on state which
would refuse other to submit nation
al question to arbitration or to accept
it's decision.
''Once the supremacy of right has
Tins been established all obstacles 70
the means of communication of the peo-
ples would disappear by assuring, by
rules to be fixed later, the true liberty
and community of the seas would con,
tribute to end the numerous causes OF
conflict and would also open to all new
sources of prosperity and progress
No Definite Plan.
GAS to the damage to be repaired
and the war expenses we see no other
means of solving the question than by
submitting as a general prlhclpie the
complete and reciprocal condemnation
which would be justified moreover py
the immense benefit to be derived from
disarmament so much so that no one VIII
undertake the continuation OF a similar
carnage solely for reason OF an econom-
ic order.
ntIf for certain cases there exists
narticular reasons they would be dellb
Grated upon with justice and equity but
these pacific agreements with the I'M
mense advantages to be derived from
them are not possible without a reclpro-
cal restitution Of the territory at pres
ent occupied. = g..
consequently, on the part OF Ger
MANY, the complete evacuation OF bel-
gium with the guarantee OF her run po-
iitical. military and economic Indepehd
ence towards it.
Evacuation of France.
eeTbe evacuation of French territory.
On tho mart of other belligerent parties
similar restitution of the German Colon
Gas regards the territorial question
as, for example, those which nav ~
between Italy and Austria, and between
Germany and France, there IS reason
to hope that IN consideration OF the I'M
mense advantages of durable peace
With disarmament, the parties in con
flict would wish to examine them win
a conciliatory disposition, taking INTO
consideration as we have said formerly
the aspirations of the peoples and the
sneeific interests and general Weiiare
~ the great human society.
tThe same spirit of equity and Jus
tice ought to be followed in the examln
alton Of other territorial and political
questions. notably those relative to Ar
nenia and the Balkan states and tern
tories making part of the ancient
kingdom of Poland, whose noble ana
traditions and sufferings
,ybieb 4 has endured ought to eoneh-
ate the sympathies of nations.
Prevention Of War.
nsueh are the principal bases where
,non we believe the future reorgani.z1al-
tion of the peoples ought to be punt
Tbey are Of nature to render impos,
-ible the return of similar conflicts, and