The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-14

amply justify him in taking the present
opportunity to suggest what may be,
he hopes, at least a foundation upon
which peace negotiations may be in
tiated.
Proposal in Rough.
At best, Pope Benedict's proposals
are only suggested as a rough basis for
such negotiations, and he realizes that
details in all their complexity must be
worked out patiently and in a spirit of
Cancellation by the beligerents them
selves
Unqualified approval of President
Wilson's plan for the avoidance of fu-
ture wars by some form Of international
organization which shall have behind
it the necessary power to enforce it's
judgments is given by Pope Benedict
who declares that along with such
splendid project must go an effective
arrangement for reduction OF arma-
ments to a point just sufficient for de-
fensive purposes or to carry out the
mandates Of the world court
1t is inconceiyable, the pope holds
that any permanent peace can be main
tanned unless the various peoples are
willing 20 rally in an amity founded
upon a recognition Of national rights.
Freedom of the Seas.
Any attempts to prevent free eco
nomic action between the belligerents.
the pope points out, would be disastrous;
therefore, he says there must be free
dom Of the seas in all that the term
implies. The pontiff declares that so
extensive has been the injury to all
the belligerents that there can be no
thought now Of either indemnity or
PREPARATION
In a spirit Of conciliation and justice.
he says, all the belligerents must suR
nit 10 accept the losses they have SUB.
tained except ip the matter OF territory;
and beside the questions Of indemnity
and reparation the pope declares that
there must be no continuation Of the
war by an economic struggle for SUI
premacy thereafter, which would be
purely evil
This refers directly TO the so-called
Paris economic conference which was
followed by one in Vienna where the
effort was made TO bind the belligerents
on either side after the war to have
/ practically no commercial relations with
their late enemies.
As TO Conquered Territory.
On the important question Of the
disposition Of occupied territory and the
territorial acquisitions OF the belllger
ents, the pope, by way OF preface. ad
mits that special causes might justify
special consideration and still be ad
justed in conformity with the principle.
OF equity and justice. But. as gen
eral proposition he feels that a proper
basis for discussion would be the re
storation at once OF all territory nov
in enemy occupation.
This would involve liberation Of Be
gium, leaving not trace OF German
control, political or military. The sam
J principle Of unencumbered freedom Il
its full sense. he says must prevail 4
| regard TO every power and nation. No
! only must such territory now occupie
by Germany be restoeed 10 France, bu
on the other hand, all German colonie
4. which have been occupied by Englan,
/ Portugal Belgium and Japan should b
l returned to Germany.
, TIE more difficult question Of Itali
irredentia, the pope thinks. should b
E examined in a spirit Of Cancellation an
e fairness. and that a special considers
tion in the settlement should be give
5 TO national aspirations.
! BalNin Problem.
e Likewise does the pope hold that th
/. complex questions involved in readjus
!. ment Of the Balkan states should /
e considered in the same spirit Of equit
;. and justice. He has especially in min
s Armenia, the Balkans and Poland an
{ the intimation conveyed is that the que
tions can safely be dealt with by dire,
diplomatic exchanges between the be
!. ligerents once an agreement is reache
e upon the general principles OF recogu
?. ton OF national aspirations and ju
I tice.
N POPE INCI RMS NEIrTRAIS