Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-08-16
POPE PROPOSES
TERMS OF PEACE
President Does Not Believe Time
Has Come To Talk Peace.
WANT ACTION AT BERLIN
Washington Official View Is That
Germany Must Make Direct
Proposals.


find itself obliged to adhere to the de-
termination of taking no part in peace
negotiations until the Imperial Gov
ernment comes forward itself with
specific propositions founded on an
acknowledgment of intention to make
reparation for the wrongs it has done
and on willingness to reform the sys-
tenn that has produced the great world
conflict.
This statement is based on what is
known of the previous general atti-
tude of this administration and what
was learned of the disposition of
President Wilson's advisors concern
! ing the peace proposal offered by
Pope Benedict, and for this reason it
is not going too far to say the United
States Government will find itself
obliged to adhere to the determination
of not participating in peace negotia-
tions at this time.
In substance the proposals of the
Pope are understood to be as follows:
A recognition that the great war is
running the world and declaration
that conditions must be remedied be-
| fore it is too late to prevent what
would amount to the destruction of
practically all the countries involved.
Acceptance of the proposal for a
compact among the nations to pre-
serve peace and prevent the violation
of the integrity or neutrality of small
States.
A reduction Of armaments by inter-
national agreement.
Freedom of the seas, seemingly not
merely in the sense in which Presi-
dent Wilson used the term in his sew
eral notes to Germany on the subject
of submarine sinkings. but in the
sense in which Germany would have
|, the term used; that is, to permit neu
trail nations to trade with belliger-
ent country without interference from
an enemy of the belligerent This i'm
preston is gathered from the state
ment Of the Pope that the term should
be construed in its fullest sense.
An agreement that the warning
group of belligerents will not under
take reprisals in trade or commerce
after the war The nations in each
group have entered into an under
standing that they will give prefer
ence in commercial relations with one
another to the detriment of the eco
nomic interests of their enemies.
Belgium, Serbia and Rumania to be
Ill fnr
ritory to be returned without payment
of indemnity This would carry with
it the restoration of Germany's Afri-
can colonies and her overseas insu-
lar possessions.
Special consideration to be given to
the disposition of Poland, Armenia,
Trieste and Trent, with due regard for
national aspirations and the senti-
ment OF the peoples of the territories
in question. 1t is said that the Pope
included Alsace-Lorraine in this class.
AS to Italia Irredenta, the Pope be-
lieves that as this is very delicate
matter, it should be considered in
spirit of Cancellation and fairness.
Special consideration to the future
status of the Balkan States.
Doubt Basis For Peace.
Officially the administration has
nothing to say, and will have nothing
to say until the Pope's proposal to the
belligerents is delivered to this Gov
ernment The Government has re-
ceived an authentic outline of the
Pope's suggestions, and these natural
" will be studied in advance of the
receipt of the formal note. There is
nothing in the Pope's appeal that
leads this government to believe that
solid basis for peace exchanges has
been laid down.
While Senators and Representatives
are disposed to be reticent in the alb
sence of more complete knowledge or
what the Pope has proposed, it seems
to be apparent that the sentiment in
Congress is in accord with the unsym-
pathetic attitude that prevails in oifi-
cial circles.