Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-03
POPE TO REPLY
DIRECT TOU.S s.
STILL HOPEFUL,
Regards America as Best
Medium Through Which
to Continue Efforts
FAITH IN AMERICAN AIMS
THE HAGUE. Sent q

Advices from Berlin today indicate
that Germany's reply to Pope Benedic,,.
peace note would be sent to Rome M.
week. In the sessions of the delegate,
representing the various German Stat,
for consideration of Germany's r.n,.
Prussia is being represented by d.,
George Michaelis, the Imperial German
Chancellor.
GENEVA Sept q. Y
Fresh indications that Pope Benedict XIV
may send another note dealing with n.,,.
are appearing. Dispatches from Row. ..
day quoted the Stampa as saying that n ,,
the intention of the Pope TO issue a dir.c,
rejoinder to President Wilson's answer :,
the original papal note.
The view taken by the Rome corresno,a
ent Of the Stampa is that the Vatican visw.
the United States as the best med,,,
through which to continue the peace efforts.
in view of the high humanitarian princip,.,
enunciated by the American Executive
WASHINGTON, Sent, a
With the text Of the Presidents note "a
Pope Benedict before the German nsor,s
today In fairly accurate translation. ON.
Gals waited for word as to how 1t was ac
tually received by them The inspired mem.
paper assaults on the note and the motives
behind its preparation have not caused anv
anxiety here. All this had been expected,
From the moment the text was made public
officials here realized that the Government
controlled press of Germany would attack
the reply as interference with the home AZ
Z, Ep,v, D,,t
first blast has been exhausted, officials he.
lieve German common sense will carefully
study the entire document, and when ths
Reichstag reconvenes the latter part of this
month 1t is considered certain the senti-
ments expressed by the President vii, hays
a part in the political crisis which is GER
tain to mark the reconvening of the Ger.
man legislative body.
PoPE's TASK SIMPLIFIED
Meanwhile, II Is known here that Pope
Benedict has by no means abandoned his
task to try to bring about peace. The IN.
dorsement of the sentiments expressed BY
the President by Great Britain and France
is expected to simplify his task Of getting
ready for the next step IT is learned on the
best authority that the Pope now Is en-
deavoring to learn what would be the mini
mum step that must be taken by the Ger
man Government in making the ruling pow
er responsible to the people.
1t is learned that the Pope has been IN
communication with Cardinal Gibbons and
other heads of the Church i'm the United
States for the purpose of finding out. IL
possible. whether the United States would.
be willing to agree to peace conference
if the German Constitution was to be
amended to provide that the Chancellor
should be selected with the consent Of the
majority of the Reichstag and would hold
office only so long as his actions had the
approval of the majority of the members Of
the elective body. This Is one subject which
the White House declines to elaborate on
for publication. What steps have been
taken to determine this fact are shrouded
In deepest mystery and must remain 90.
The State Department continues to main
tain it's public attitude that It has no
knowledge that any such inquiries have
been made. Secretary Lansing has declined
to discuss this problem in any way.
AUSTRIA AND TURKEY IN LINE ri
1t is understood here that the Central
Powers are to make a joint reply to the
Pope. Exchanges already have taken place
according to information reaching diplo-
matte circles here. Turkey, 1t is stated.
has notified Berlin that her desires are that
the proposals of his Holiness shall be &C.
cepted in the form in which they were in
itiated. Austria also is understood to be
in agreement that the suggestions of the
Vatican are eminently fair.
Germany's attitude has still to be outlined,
while II Is accepted here that naturally
Bulgaria will oppose any settlement that
would not give her greatly increased terri
tory.
The next step of the Pope If he intends
that his efforts to end the war are to b.
crowned with success, must be to influences
changes in Germany to meet the conditions
laid down by the President.
This means officials were careful to point
out today. that for the next few weeks the
moves Of the Vatican must center in Wash.
ington and Berlin. And because of the ex-
traordnary deicacy of the situation, all
moves designed to develop a basis of peace
must be made with the utmost secrecy.