Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-15

brought before the world. The allied
statesmen realize that once considera-
ton of any part of the Pope's propo-
sails begins, pacificists and socialist
elements are at once enabled to take
up discussions which would embar-
rass their governments.
Presidents Pronouncements
President Wilson's latest pronounce
ment on the most vital of the propo-
sails Pope Benedict makes are inter-
esting.
When the new Russian government
was wavering on the point Of making
a separate peace and declaring for no
anneXations and no indemnities, the
president in message to the Russian
people declared:
of course the Imperial German
government and those whom it is
using for their own undoing are seek
ing to obtain pledges that the war will
end in the restoration Of the status
quo ante. 1t was the status quo ante
out of which this iniquitous war is
sued FORTH the power of the Imperial
German government within the en-
pire and its widespread domination
and influence outside Of that empire
That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hideous
thing from happening again"
Two days later, in his Flag day ad-
dress the President, referring to the
military masters of Germany, said:
If they can secure peace now with
the immense advantages still in their
hands which they have up to this point
apparently gained, they will have JUS
titled themselves before the German
people; they will have gained by force
what they promised to gain BY it in
an immense expansion of German DOW
er; an immense enlargement Of Ger
man industrial and commercial op-
portunities. Their prestige will be Sc
cured and with their prestige their
political power"
War Address to Congress
In his war address to Congress the
president declared for spending the
whole force Of the nation, if need be,
to check and nullify the pretensions
and power of the German military au-
tocracy.
This phrase, now universally accepted
as the war aim Of all the Allies. the En-
tente diplomats here contend, hardly fits
in with a restoration Of the status quo
before the war. a return Of Germany's
colonies and no restitution by Belgium
The one point on which Germany might
stick. diplomats feel. is the restoration of
Alsace-Lorraine. These provinces be-
cause of their mineral deposits are not
NIL t1 ~
of Germany they say. but in the hands
of France again would constitute a mill
tary menace to the whole German scheme
on the western frontier. A neutral diplo-
nat today ventured the opinion that Ger
many, beaten. would concede all but the
less of Alsace- Lorraine.
Allied diplomats and American officials
alike realize that the answer to the peace
proposals involves one of the most deli
ate tasks Of the war. They realize that
the people Of a war-worn Europe. whip
ped by paciist and socialistic agitation.
must have a convincing answer to appeal
to stop the fighting and still be held true
to their war aims. They do not wish to
leave Germany in the position she has
worked SO hard to attain. the position Of
offering peace to the world and having II
rejected
The Moving Causes
A war which was to have been An
ished in six weeks is entering on it's
fourth year. A warfare of submarine
frightfulness which was to have
brought Great Britain to surrender
within 90 days is entering it's seventh
month without the promised result.
The group fighting Germany has wild
ened into a world circle Of II nations,
all uniting their resources and power
for the destruction of the German
military autocracy. The imperial gov
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