The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1917-09-22
TEXT OF
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lCohtinueo From Page one.
ments, has to rely on peaceful inter-
course with her neighbors and with
distant countries. No people, there
fore. has more reason than the Ger
man people to wish that instead of
universal hatred and battle, that a
conciliatory fraternal spirit should
prevail between nations.
IF the nations are guided by this
spirit. it will be recognized to their
advantage that the important thing
is to lay more stress upon what units
them in their relations. They will al
so succeed in settling individual points
of conflict which are still undecided
in such way that conditions of ex-
istence will be created which will be
satisfactory to every nation and, there
by a repetition Of this great world
catastrophe would appear impossible.
only on this condition can a last
ing peace be founded which would pro-
mote an intellectual reapproachment
and return to the economic prosper
ity of human society.
This serious and sincere conviction
encourages our confidence that our
enemies also may see suitable basis
in the ideas submitted by his holiness
for approaching nearer to the prepa-
ration Of future peace under condi-
tions corresponding to spirit of reas-
onableness and to the situation in
Europe"
The document is signed by the i'm
perial chancellor Michaelis, and is ad.
10
secretary of state.
Holy Father: With due veneration
and deep emotion we take cognizance
of the new representations Your Holi.
ness, in fulfillment of the holy office
entrusted to you by God, makes to
US and the heads of the other belliger-
ent states with the noble intention Of
leading the heavily tried nations to a
unity that will restore peace to them.
With a thankful heart we receive
this fresh gift of fatherly care which
you, Holy Father, always bestow on all
peoples without distinction, and from
the depths Of our hearts we greet the
moving exhortation which Your Holi-
ness has addressed to the Govern
ments of the belligerent peoples.
Places Hope in Pontiff
During this cruel war we always
have looked up to Your Holiness as to
the highest parsonage, who In virtue
OF his mission. which reaches beyond
earthly things. and thanks to the high
conception of his duties laid upon him.
stands high above the belligerent
peoples. and who Is accessible to all
influence, who was able to find way
which may lead to the realization OF
our own desire for peace, lasting and
honorable for RH@parties"
If, as we most heartily desire,
agreements had been arrived at be-
tween the belligerents which would
realize this sublime idea and thereby
give security to the Austro-H Hungarian
for its unhampered future
deGelopment. it can then not be diff
cult to find a satisfactory solution of
the other questions which still remain
to be settled between the belligerents
n spirit Of justice and OF reason.
able consideration of the conditions
for existence of both parties.
If the nations Of the earth were to
enter with desire for peace, into ne
sotiations with one another in the
sense Of Your Holiness's, proposals.
hen peace could blossom forth from
hem
The nations could attain complete
freedom Of movement on the high
seas; heavy material burdens could be
,aken from them and new sources of
opened to them.
Guided by spirit Of moderation
Ind conciliation, we see in the pro.
oosals OF Your Holiness a suitable
basis for initiating negotiations with
view to preparing a peace, Just to
LII and lasting, and we earnestly hone
,ur present enemies may be animated
oy the same ideas. In this spirit we
beg that the Almighty may bless the
work Of peace begun by Your Holi-
less"