Macon beacon., 1917-09-07
WILSON REPLIES TO PEACE PROPOSALS
RECENTLY MADE BY POPE BENEDICT XV
Tells His Holiness Peace Can Not Be Considered as Long
as Kaiserism Rules German People-Leayes Way
Open for Further Discussion
WORLD KNOWS PURPOSES OF THE UNITED STATES

Washington President Wilson has
rejected the peace proposals OF Pope
Benedict XIV 40 this time
In note sent to the pope, he de.
Clarcs that the United States must con
linue 10 fight until It is satisfied that
a peace treaty would bc more than
another scrap ~ paper 10 be torn b.
Germany rulers at win
The text Of the note follows:
Ills Holiness Benedictus Ky, Pope:
In acknowledgment of the commune
icatIon OF your holiness to the belligef
ent peoples, dated Aug /, 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 the dignity and force OF the hu
name and generous motives which
prompted It, and must feNently wish
that we might take the path Of peace
he 80 persuasively points out But 1t
would be folly 10 take It II II does not
in fact lead to the goal he proposes
Our response must he based upon the
stern facts and upon nothing else. II
IL not mere cessation of arms he de.
slres. 1t is stable and enduring peace.
This agony must not be gone through
with again. and II must be a matter
of very sober judgment that will In
sure us against 1t.
"Hk holiness in substance proposes
that we return to the status quo ante
bellum, and that then there be IL gen
eral condonation, disarmament and a
concert of nations based upon an ac-
ceptance of the principle Of arbitrs'
tion. that by similar concert free
dom of the seas be established; and
that territorial claims Of Franco and
Italy. the porplexing problems OF the
Balkan states, and the restitution of
Poland be left to such conciliatory ad-
tustments as may be possible OF the
peoples whose political fortunes and
affiliations will be involved.
lnsincerity Suspected.
at is manifest that no part OF this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution OF the status
quo ante furnishes firm and salts
factory basis for It The object OF this
war is to deliver the free peoples OF
The world from the menace and the ac-
tual power of vast military establish
ment controlled by an irresponsible
government which. having secretly
planned to dominate the world, pro-
Ceeded to carry the plan out without
regard either to the sacred obligations
of treaty or the long established prac-
icos and long cherished principles Of
international action and honor; which
chose its own time for the war deliy-
cred It's blow fierCely and suddenly;
of mercy. swept whole conunen;
within the tide OF blood-nOt the blood
of soldiers only, but the blood of limo.
cent women and children also, and of
the helpless poor, and now stands
halked but not defeated. the enemy OF
four-ffths of the world This power is
not the German people. II is the ruth
less master of the German people. 1t
is no business of ours how that great
people came under It's control or sub
mitted with temporary 2ost to the dom
inaton of its purpose; but It Is our
business to see to it that the history of
the rest of tho world is no longer left
TO its handling.
"To deal with such power by way
of peace upon the plan proposed by
his holiness, the pope would, so far as
we can scc involve a recuperation OF
its strength and 4 renewal of its pol.
icy; would make 1t necessary to ere.
ate a permanent hostile combination
of nations against the German people
who are its instruments; and would
result in abandoning the newborn
Russia to the intrigue the manifold
subtle Interference and the Cortai'
couuterroyomtion which would be at
tempted by all the malign influences to
which the German government has OF