The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-22
Germany To Confer With Her
Allies on Reply to Pope.
Socialists OutspOken in APP
proving Vatican Effort.
PUBLIC GROWS PESSIMISTIC
Chancellor InterpOlates Def to
Discourage Peace.
Says Enemy'S Desire Is To An
initiate German Empire.

Berlin, Aug. 22.-Chancelfor Mich
aells informed the main committee
of the reichstag today that no steps
would be undertaken toward peace
without fully consulting the reichstag.
He then declared that the military
situation on all fronts was exception
ally suspicious and read a message
received from Great Headquarters in
which the U-boat campaign was given
liberal credit for it's effort in success
fully warding off the allied offensive
in Flanders. DIR. Richard Won Kuehl-
mann the new foreign secretary and
other newly appointed government
heads were presented to tile commit
tee.
Constantin Fehrenbach one of the
Centrist party leaders, was elected
chairman of the main committee to
succeed DIR. Peter SPAIN. DR.. Mich
aelis conferred confidentially with the
reichstag leaders during the day while
party factions were also in session in
the morning.
Delay Reply TO Pope.
Copenhagen, Aug. 22.-After Chan
cellor Michaelis had informed the
main committee of the reichstag
Tuesday that Germany would not re-
ply to the papal peace note until she
had consulted her allies, Socialist
speakers said they welcomed the
any step capable of bringing peace
and all the more because IL was eX-
pected to bear results.
The Liberals declared themselves
in agreement with the chancellor S
sympathetic interpretations of the
pope's action The Centrists asso-
ciated themselves with the chancel-
lor's remarks and said the pope's pro-
posal marked extraordinary valuable
progress toward peace which was so
ran 10 cd nv al m
hoped the effort of His Holiness would
meet with fun success. The National
Liberal speakers said they were una
BILE as yet to examine closely the con-
tents of the papal note. but endorsed
the chancellor's statements. The
conservatives also associated them
selves with DIR. Michaelis' remarks but
reserved their attitude with regard to
the details.
Pope Not Acting for Germany.
The German group especially well
coined the qhancellor's firm declara-
ton that the note emanated spon-
taneously from the pope.
They regarded the pope's action as
more sympathetic than President
Wilson's previous attempt at media
ton. The Independent Socialists re-
GREETED that the speakers expressed
only general sympathy with the note
without discussing II.
The reischstag must exert it's influ-
ence in debating the reply. One So
cialist said there was no question of
the reichstag renouncing such influ-
ence, but some days must be allowed
to enable the government to confer
with the allies. Moreover, the gov
eminent promises not to reply without
taking the reichstag into its conf
dence. The main committee then ad-
journed
~ No Desire for Peace Exists.
Amsterdam, Aug. 22.-BerIin sees
no present hope of peace despite Pope
Benedicts pleas. Dispatches from
Berlin today indicated this pessimistic
view by the public following Chan
cellor Michaeliss speech to the main
committee of the reichstag, portions
of which appeared in this morning
newspapers.
THE enemy's war aims prove their
desire to annihi1ate Germany
Michaelis was quoted as declaring
Therefore no present desire for peace
EXISTS.
up to the present there has beer
no opportunity to deliberate with oul
allies regarding the pope's note. There
is no doubt of the honesty impelling
the note and therefore L would regard
il sympathetically."
Michaelis denied that the popes is
inspired by the central powers.
In conclusion the chancellor de-
clared that Germany's alliance will
Austro-Hungary was now stronger