The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-08-16
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PEACE PROPOSED BY POPE
Pontiff Asks Belligerents to Consider
Peace and Stop Further
BlOOdshed.

biOOdSned.
The peace proposals of the pope
as outlined in Washington recently
contained the following suggestions:
Reductions of all ornaments.
Settlement of international dis
putes by arbitration.
Freedom of the seas.
Return to Germany Of all her
colonies.
Restoration of territory captured
by central powers.
Peaceful settlement of Alsaee-
Lorraine and Poland controversies.
Immediate exchange of diplomatic
communications looking toward
peace
Avoidance Of retaliatory economic
struggle after the war.
Peace proposals made by Pope
Benedict have been delivered to all
the belligerents.
The pope's appeal proposes that
there be no annexation and no in
IDENTITIES, except in special cases
such as Belgium and Servia, the re-
turn to Germany of her colonies in
exchange for the occupied depart
ments of France, freedom of the seas,
disarmament and the formation Of
supreme court of arbitration for
the settlement of future international
disputes.
Pope Benedict's proposals are only
suggested on the basis for such ne
gotiations, and he realizes that the
details in all their Complexity must
be worked out patiently and in a
spirit Of Cancellation by the bel
prevail of President Wilson's plans
| ligerents themselves. Unqualified APP
Cor tho avoidance of future wars
BY some form of internationl Organi-
cation having power to enforce its
opinions is suggested by Pope Bene-
dict, who says that along the lines
Of this the splendid project must go
reduction of armament to a point just
to carry out the mandates of the
world court. 1t is inconceivable, the
pope holds, that any permanent
peace can be maintained unless the
various peoples are willing to gather
in an amity founded upon national
rights.
Any attempt to free economic ac-
tion between the belligerents, the
pope points out, would be disastrous;
therefore, he says, there must be
freedom of the seas in all that the
term implies.
The pontiff declares that so extern
siye has been the injury to all of the
belligerents that there can be no
thought now. Of either indemnity or
reparation.
In spirit OF Cancellation, he says,
all the belligerents must submit to
accept the losses sustained, except
in the matter of territory, and the
pope declared that there must be no
continuation of the war. by an eco
nomic struggle for supremacy there
after, which would be purely evil.
On the question Of the disposition Of
occupied territory and the territorial
ambitions of the belligerents, the pope,
by way of preface, admits that spec
ial cases might justify special con-
sideration and still be adjusted in
conformity with the principles of
equity and justice. But, as a gene
raj proposition, he feels that a prop
er basis for discussion would be the
restoration at once all territory, in
, GLIDING colonies, now in enemy oc-
cupation. That would involve liber-
alton Of Belgium, having not trace
of German control, political or mill
tary.
The more difficult question Of Italia
Iridentia, the pope thinks, should be
examined in spirit of Cancellation
and fairness and that a special con-
sideration in the settlement should be
given to national aspirations.
Likewise does the pope hold that
the complex questions involved in
re-adiustment Of the Balkan states
/ should be considered in the same
{ spirit Of equity and justice. He has
+ especially in mind Armenia, the Bal
, kans and Poland, and the intimation
conveyed is that these questions can
) be safely dealt with by direct diplo-
: matte exchanges between the bel
J ligerents, once an agreement is
, reached upon the general principles
i of, recognition of national aspirations
( and justice
! An announcement that the Spanish
5 ambassador at Rome had transmit
E ted Pope Benedict. s proposals to the
: Italian government, and the opinion
& expressed at the apostolic delegation
: here that they might be delivered to
, the United States by a neutral, led
t to the possibility that the Spanish
! ambassador here, Juan Riano, might
E convey them to the States depart
ment.
{ The Spanish embassy.'s only i'm.
t formation today, it was said there
E had been received from the Associ.
0 ated Press dispatches.
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