Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-27
GERMANYS REPLY
AVOIDS AN ANSWER
Agrees with Pope in Part-Si.
lent about Specific Peace
Terms.

Amsterdam, Sept. 23.-Following is the
complete text of the German reply to
Pope Benedict's peace PROPOSAL:
Herr Cardinal-Your Eminence has been
good enough, together with your letter
of August 2, to transmit to the Kaiser
and King, my most gracious master. the
note of his Holiness, the Pope, in which
his Holiness. filled with grief at the
devastation of the world war, makes an
emphatic peace appeal to the heads of
the belligerent peoples. The Kaiser-King
has designed to acquaint me with your
Eminence's letter and to entrust the reply
to me.
"His Majesty has been following for a
considerable time with high respect and
sincere gratitude his Holiness's efforts. in
a spirit of true impartiality. to alleviate
as far as possible the sufferings of the
war and to hasten the end of hOstilitieS.
The Kaiser sees in the latest step of his
Holiness fresh proof of his noble and
humane feelings, and cherishes a lively
desire that for the benefit of the entire
world the Papal appeal may meet with
success.
1.-THE effort of Pope Benedict is to pave
the way to an understanding among all
peoples and might more surely reckon on
a sympathetic reception and whole
heated support from his Majesty. seeing
that the Kaiser, since taking over the
government, has regarded it as his prin-
cipal and most sacred task to preserve
the blessings of peace for the German
people and the world. In his first speech
from the throne at the opening of the
German Reichstag, on June 25, 1883, the
Kaiser promised that his love of the Ger
man army and his position toward it
should never lead him into temptation to
clIt short the hennffc nf naapa up1acc war
were a necessity, forced upon us by an
attack on the Empire or its allies. The
German army should safeguard peace for
us, and. should peace nevertheless be
broken, it would he in a position to win it
with honor. The Kaiser has. by his acts,
fulfilled the promise he then made in 26
years of happy rule, despite provocations
and temptations.
GERMANY FIRST FOR PEACE.
"In the crisis which led to the pres
ent world c~onf1agration his Majesty's
efforts We're, up to the last moment. di-
rected towards settling the conflict by
peaceful means. After the war had
broken out, against his wish and de-
sire. the Kaiser in conjunction with
his high allies was the first solemnly
to declare his readiness to enter into
peace negotiations. The German peO.
pie supported his Majesty in his keer
desire for peace.
Germany Sough within her nationa
frontier the free development of he
spiritual and mat "ial possessions ant
outside the imperial territory unhan
dered competition with nations enjoy
ing equal rights and equal esteem
The free play of forces in the world IL
peaceable wrestling with one anothe
would lead to the highest perfecting o
the noblest human possessions. Disas
trous confederation of events in tn
year 1914 absolutely broke off all hope
full course of development and trans
formed Europe into a bloody battl
arena.
"Appreciating the importance of hi
Holiness's declaration, the imperia
government has not failed to submit
the suggestion contained therein t
earnest and scrupulous examination
Special measures, which the govern
ment has taken in closest contact wit
representatives of 1.-THE German peopl,
for discussing and answering the ques
tons raised prove how earnestly it dc
sires, in accordance with his Holiness
desires and the peace resolution of tn
Reichstag on July 10, to find a practic;
basis for a just and lasting peace.
RIGHT MUS S~UPERSEDE FORCE
1.-THE imperial government gree,
with special sympathy the leadin
Idea of the peace appeal wherein II
Holiness clearly expresses the convi,
ito. that in the future the materi
power OF arms must be superseded
the moral power of right. We are al,
convinced that the sick body of h,
man soI-sty can only be healed I
fortifying it's moral strength of rigf
From this would follow. according
His Holiness's view, the simultaneo
20 A. .-.-I
states and the institution of obligato
arbitration for International di
putes.
I'VE share His Holiness's view tn
definite rules and a certain safegua
for a sim Gus and reciprocal liz
itation, O '2nts or land, on Sc
and in s. wei as for the tr
freedom C community and hi
seas, arr hings, in treating viii
the new It that in the futu
should prevail in international relati
should find first hopeful expressio
The task would then of itself ar
to decide international differences
opinion, not by the use of arm
forces, but by peaceful methods, esp
cially by arbigratiOn. whose hi
peace-producing effect we togetf
with His Holiness fully recognize.
THE imperial government will
this respect support every propo'
compatible with the vital interest
the German empire and people.
Germany. owing to her geographic
situation and economic requirements, b
to rely on peaceful intercourse with J
neighbors and with distant countries.
people, therefore, has more reason tn
the German people to. wish that inste
of universal hatred and battle that
-onniliatory fraternal spirit should p