The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-08-24
EXPECTED PEACE
PROPOSAL MADE
DIPLOMATS BELIEVE POPE,S OF
FER WILL BE REJECTED
BY THE ALLIES
THINK GERMANY WILL
Astonishing Similarity to President
Wilson'S Views in Communica-
tion-officiaIs Realize Con-
vincing Reply Necessary TaA

Washington, August 16.-Pope Ben
edict's peace proposals, the official
text of which arrived last night, were
not unexpected to the United States
nor to any of the entente allies.
| The possibility of a peace move was
discussed with British Premier Viyi-
ami when the British and French Off
cial missions We're in Washington and
it was agreed that all the allies includ-
ing the United States should refuse
to discuss peace terms while Germany
occupied the territories she had taken
and thereby avoid what the allied
statesmen considered German trap.
Now the pontiff's proposal puts the
question in somewhat different light,
difficult to meet, but it offers q war
ring world a hope for peace.
Germany and her allies are expect
ed promptly to accept the pope's pro-
posals.
Diplomats of the entente circle
voice nothing hut an unanimous opin-
ion that the offer will be rejected.
American officials realize that a con-
vincing reply is required for the
worlds pages of history. That the pro-
posals can not be accepted as they
stand is certain. That they will not
be acceptable at all is probable.
The first appraisal of the proposals
by officials and diplomats was that it
was another attempt by Germany, this
time working through Austria, because
of the latter's close relation to the
to accomplish what she failed
in her first peace Offer-the assem-
bling of peace delegates at round |
table conference where the interests of |
one ally could be played off against |
the other, with the disruption of the |
grand alliance as the stake. In no
quarter is there any disposition to
question in any way the good faith
If the vatican, although the peace ac-
ivities of the Roman Catholic ele-
nents in Germany and Austria have
,een prominent for several months.
But, as the official outline dis
loses the terms of Pope Benedicts
proposals officials were astounded to
ealize its similarity with some of
PRESIDENT Wilson's declarations on the
ubject. International agreement to
nforce peace, reduction of armament
nd recognition of the national aspira-
ion of the small peoples, all were
rought forward by the president in
is epochal address before congress.
Although the proposal to leave for A.,
iplOmatic discussion such great uues- :,
Ons as Italia irredentia, q free Po- >
md, and AlsaceLorraine might be re- /;
ected on many grounds, close observ-
RS fOresee the possibility of embar-
lssment in declining to discuss pro-
osals which the president himself :
rOught before the world
The allied statesmen realize that a
nee consideration of any part of the f
ope's proposals begins, pacifists and h
,cialist elements will be enabled to
Ike up discussions which will embar- +
ISIS their governments. The hands p
France again would constitute a {.
Hilary menace to the whole German !.
heme on the western frontier. A Il
eutral diplomat ventured the opin- :.
n that Germany, beaten, would con- ~
de all but the loss of Alsace-Lor- :,
inc. =.