The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-29
Acknowledges Humane and
Generous Motives which
Prompted Pontiff
OUTLINES TEST OF
EVERY PEACE PLAN
Not Seeking to Either Pun
ish or Dismember, But
Require Guarantees
nv Associated Press J


Washington. Aug. 29.-President
: Wilson has re5ected the Pope's peace
proposals. In, a note dispatched Mon
day night and made public here last
night the president says that every
heart not blinded and hardened by
the terrible war must be touched b.
the moving appeal Nof His Holiness,
but it would be folly to take the path
of peace he points out If it does not
in fact lead to the goal he proposes.
To deal with such a power as the
present rulers of Germany upon
Pope Benedict's plan, declares the
president. would involve a recupera-
tion OF the strength and renewal OF
the world domination OF that power,
now baked but not defeated after
sweeping a continent with the blood
of innocent women and children and
the helpless poor as well as OF SOL
diers.
Permanent peace must be based
Apon the faith of all the peoples and
upon Justice and fairness and the
common rights OF mankind, he adds,
and Eve cannot take the word of the
present. rulers of Germany as a
d guarantee Of anything that is ia
endure unless explicitly supported by
such conclusive evidence of the will
and purpose Of the German people
themselves as the other peoples OF
the world would be justified in ac-
ceptihg."
The text Of the note follows:
August 27. 1917.
"To His Holiness,
"Benedictus XIV, Pope.
@In acknowledgment of the CONF
rnunication of Your Holiness to the
belligerent peoples, dated Aug. 1,
1917. the president Of the United
States requests me to transmit the
following reply:
Touched BY Appeal.
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must be touched by this NOV
ing appeal of His Holiness the Pope,
must feel the dignity and force of
the humane and generous motives
which prompted it, and must ferv-
emily wish that we might take the |
path Of peace he so persuasively |
points out. But. it would be folly ia
take Ii IL it does not in fact lead |
to the goal he proposes. Our re-
sponse must be based upon the stern |
facts and upon nothing else. 1t is |
not a mere cessation of arms he de- |
Kires; 1t is a stable and enduring |
peace. This agony must not be gone |
through with again, and 1t must be |
a matter of very sober Judgment |
what win insure us against 1t.
"His Holiness, in substance pro-
poses that we return to the status |
quo ante bellum, and that then there |
be d general condonation, disarma- |
ment and q concert tof nations, based |
upon an acceptance of the principle |
OF arbitration; that by a similar |
concert freedom of the seas be es-
fablished and that the territorial /
claims of France and Italy, the per-
picking problems of the Balkan |
states, and the restitution of Poland /
be left to such conciliatory adjust
ments as may be possible in the
now temper Of such a peace, due
regard being paid to the aspirations
of the peoples whose political for
tunes and Affiliations will be in
Vo1ved.
III is manifest that no part of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the
satus quo ante bellum furnishes
arm and satisfactory basis for II. I
The object of this war Is to deliver
the free peoples of the world from
the menace and the actual power of
3 vast military establishment, con-
Irolled by an irresponsible govern
ment which, having secretly planned
to dominate the world, proceeded to
GARY out the plan without regard
either to the sacred obligations of
treaty or the long established prac-
ices and long cherished principles
1f international action and honor;
which chose its own time for. the
wa delivered its blow fiercely and
suddenly: stopped at no barrier
either Of law or of mercy: swept a
whole continent within the tide Of i
blood not the blood OF soldiers
Dnly, but the blood Of innoceIlk wo-
nen and children also and of the
Helpless poor, and now stands balk- Il
sd but not defeated, the enemy Of {
our fffhs Of the world b
This power is not the German /
people It Is the ruthless master of S
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