Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-08-29
Rejection of Pope Benedict's
Peace Proposals Is Regard
ed as High-Water Mark of
War of the Nations.
NO FAITH JUSTIFIED
IN GERMAN RULERS
Hope Is Expressed That Stronu
Document May Assist Teu-
ton People to See Faults of
Government.

ter MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED w1sr,
washington. Augl 2S.-President
WILSON'S rejection of the pope's peace
proposals is regarded here as the
nigh water mark of the war. Further
more 1t is indicative OF the virtual
selection of the president by the allies
as their spokesman before the world.
Ihe note comes as a climax to the
remarkable series of state documents
in which President Wilson has argued
the cause of world democracy
against autocracy In the high court of
public opinion and accepted more
and more by the people of all the
allied countries as expressing their
Ideals. There appears to be no doubt
that the United States was selected
to make answer before the world in
advance of all the others. Whether
the entente nations will send extern
sve replies is not known here. 1t
is regarded as probable that they will
in large measure adopt the presidents
reasoning for their own and send
notes of Endorsement.
No InlIing Of Terms.
The general tenor OF the presidents
reply has been anticipated every
where but there was no inkling of
the forceful terms he would employ
to say that the world can have no
faith in the autocratic government Of
Germany.
Students of diplomacy see in his
denunciation OF the military autoc-
racy fresh appeal to the war-rid-
den German people to throw off mill
tary masters and join democracy with
government fit to deal with the
remainder of the world. Although
this appeal probably will not be per-
mitted to become known In Germany
until the autocracy has attempted to
mold the temper of the people for its
reception by denuucation through
government controlled press of what
has been characterized as interfer-
ence in the internal affairs Of Ger
many, the hope is that it will fall on
fertile soil.
Represents Allies Views.
Considering the extraordinary char.
acter of the presidents communica-
ton. its immense Importance in defi-
nitely terminating for the present all
efforts to reach compromise peace.
and the assured fact that 1t represents
the views of all of the entente allied
powers Joined with America in the
war against Germany, the time con-
sumed in the preparation of the reply
was remarkably short.
That the presidents response to the
pope's overtures would be q courteous
but firm declination had been gen.
orally believed so that In this respect
at least his communication will cause
no surprise. The feature that Is cer-
tain to fix public attention is the cold
determination not even to permit the
subject of peace negotiations to be
broached so long as the evil and DOM
mating forces of autocracy and mill
tarism control the central powers. II
Is not even necessary to read between
the lines of the presidents response
to see clearly apparent the inflexible
purpose
Discussion Avoided.
For this reason the president was
not to be led into any discussion OF
the peace conditions detailed by Pope
Benedict, though that field was made
alluring by the pontnrs adoption of
some of the proposals laid down by
President Wilson himself In early
utterances. On the other hand there
was no effort to evnde responsibility
| for an expression of view as to the
basis of sound and enduring peace for
the presidents response in it's con-
Guiding paragraphs restates the pur-
poses for which America entered the
| great war.
The radical difference that appears
to exist between the pope ana the