Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15
Allies May Reject
POpe's Proposals
Continued from Page One


stand firmly together in not accepting the
Pope's peace offer.
Further, IL was pointed out, the general
trend of the offer SO far as it has been out
lined to the state Department contains a
number Of propositions to which the United
States could not acccde.
1t Is expected that England will speak
for the Allies in replying to the Pope s
message.
TEUTON ASSENT LOOKED FOR
Intlrnations that Germany and Austria
Hungary will accept the Vatcans peace
proposals and place the burden OF rejection,
if they are to be rejected, on the United
States and the Entente Powers reached
washington today. This information which
came through confidential diplomatic circles,
added to the anxiety of the Administration,
which views with the deepest concern the
infection into the war of this new concrete
proposition at the present moment
Gables received early at the state De-
partment indicated strong opposition In
England, France and Italy to favorable
view Of the new peace step Belief that
the move was pro-Austrian was sharply ex-
pressed by high Government officials.
The President has not definitely deter
mined upon the full scope of his reply. De-
cision awaits study of the Pope's formal
note The President will reply to 1t. Ac.
cording to one high in his councils and who
actively participated in the formation of
this country's policies, the President will
refuse to accept It, Whether not he
makes suggestions that may further nego-
tations awaits an expression of world
opinion.
AGAINST STATUS QUO ANTE
According to this official the President
will outline in simplest terms why Amer
lea cannot accept a status quo ante peace.
"Our situation is this" the official said
"a reighbOr has entered our home, ravaged
those things hold most dear. We catch
the enemy. He is within our power. Then
another neighbor enters. He suggests that
we not kill the man who destroyed our
happiness He suggests that we give the
beast his freedom that purse be taken
In the neghborhood to restore the losses we
have suffered and that we then 20 on and
live in peace beside the man who ruined our
family.
The thought Is -preposterous
II is revolving to even conceive of a peace
with Germany based on the terms the Pope
has outlined"
In his message to the Russian people last
June the President had the following to
say regarding attempts to restore the status
quo ante:
"Of course, the Imperial German Gov
ernment and those whom II is using for
their own undoing are seeking to obtain
rpStOrl-
tion OF status quo ante. 1t was the status
quo ante out Of which this iniquitous wal.
issued forth ; the power of the Imperial Ger
man Government within the empire and it's
widespread domination and influence outside
OF that empire. That status must he AL
tered in such fashion as to prevent any such
hideous thing from happening again"
Nevertheless. officials are not scoffinp at
THIS peace move, There has been no at
tempt to minimize its importanca r,o,,
Ing, as 1t does, from a source outside tho
realm of diplomacy, at time when the
world feels revuson at the thought of
another winter campaign and when all
treasures except the American are at low
ebo 1t must be reckoned with
HINT OF GERMAN WEAKNESS
Authorities realize that, coming from the
Pope, the offer carries weight which Ger
man "feelers" and made in Gorp,any',
peace suggestions have lacked that tho
offer will stir pacifst sentiment, and causs