The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-08-24
TEXT OF PONT|FFS
PEACE PROPOSAL
URGE INDEPENDENCE OF BEL
GUM, EVACUATION OF FRANCE
AND RETURN or COLONIES.
Disarmament Would Be Such q Boon
That lncemnities Would Not ee
Needed, Says Pontin.--Freedom
Of the Seas is Recommended.

closing q copy OF his appeal 10 fht
heads Of the belIigerent peoples, NJ
follows:
"Your majesty. the holy father
anxious 70 do everything he can III
order 10 put an end 10 The conflict
which for the last three years has
ravage,l the civilized world. has dc.
cided TO submit 70 the leaders Of the
heIllgcrcns peoples concrete peace
proposals exposed IN document
which ! have the honor "a attach "a
this letter. May God grant that the
words OF bis holiness win this time
produce the desired effect for the
good OF the whole OF humanity.
"'fhe holy see not having diplomatic
relations with the French government,
or with the government Of Italy or the
United States, ! very respectfully beg
your majesty TO be good enough to
have handed copy OF his holiness APP
peal 70 the president Of the French re-
public, to HIS majesty. the king Of
Italy, and 10 the president OF the
United States.
II also beg 10 add twelve other
copies which ] request your ma iesty
20 be good enough 10 hand 10 the lead
ers Of the nations friendly to the al.
lies, with the exception, however, OF
RUSSIA, Belgium and Brazil 10 whom
the document has been sent direct.
In expressing 10 your majesty my
sincere thanks for this extreme kind
ness, ] nm happy 20 take the oppor-
tuniiy 20 offer your the homage of
sentiment, very profound respect,
with which have the honor to sign
myself your majesty's very humble and
devoted servant,
.tsigncdI GASPARRI.
Text Of Appeal
''To the leaders OF the belllgerent
peoples;
Since the beginning Of our pontifl-
cate, the horrors OF Il terrible war
being lei loose on Europe we have In
yiew above everything three things
- preserve; Perfect imparlIulIty to-
ward all belligerenis, as Is suitable for
linn who Ii the common father and who
loves all his children with equal affce-
tion. Continually % attempt TO do all
the good possible and that without ex.
ception Of person, without distinction
If nationality or religion rs IL dictated
10 US BY the universal law Of charity
which the supreme splrltuai charge has
cnnfided 20 MS with Christ Finally, as
our pacific mission also requires us 70
omit nothing as long us II was III our
power which might contribute to
hasten the end OF tbs calamity by try
Ing % lead people and their leaders to
more moderate resolution to hasten a
serene deliberation Of peace just ana
durable.
Whoever has followed our work
during those three painful years which
have lust passed has been able easily
60 recognize thnt IL we have always
remnined faithful 70 our resolve OF
absolute impartiality and to our at
titude Of beneyOlence we have not
ceased 10 eAhort the peoples and the
belligercnt brothers again 10 become
brethren, although publicity has not
been given 20 an that We have done to
attain this very noble aim.
Toward the end Of the first year
OF the war we addressed 10 the ma
lions in conflict most lively cxhorta-
lions, aud more, we Indicated the part
20 be followed 20 arrive at stable
aud honorable peace for all Unfor-
fnuatoly our appeal WAS not heard and
the war continued desperately for an.
other two years. with al It's horrors. 1t
became even more cruel aud extended
over the cath, over the sea ana IN the
mir. ana one saw desolatlon and death
descend upon the cities without de,
Tense. upon peaceful villages and on
their innocent population, and no one
can imagine how the snfferings OF ali
would be Increased ana aggravated II
other months, or, worse still, other
years are about 20 be added to this
sanguInary triennIum.
as this civilized world 20 be moth
ing more than field OF death? And
Europe, so glorious and so flourishing
Is Il going as II stricken by universal
madness 10 run to the abyss and e
lend It's hand to its own suicide?
Cries Peace Once More.
In such a terrible situation and II
the presence OF a menace so serious
we have no particular political aim
and do not listen to suggestions or Il
the interests of any of the belliger
ent parties, but are solely compelled
by sentiment OF our supreme dut.
as the common father of the faithful
by the solicitation of our child, el
who implore our Intervention and Oh
pacifying work.
Through the voice even OF human
ity and of reason we once more emf
the cry Of peace, and we renew
pressing appeal to those who hold
their hands the destinies of nation
But in order no longer to speak
general terms as the circumstances ha
counselled us in the past, we now wis
to make more concrete and practic
proposals and to invite the COVER
ments of the belligerent peoples
come to an agreement upon the follo'