Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-14

voice Of the entente powers. and there
Is no reason to believe that 1t would
be any more welcome now.
Proposals Quite Long.
Tho Pope's proposals. which already
have been delivered to the resident am
pwers in Rome. is quite long. making
In print something more than col
umn of large newspaper type. Al
though special efforts are being made
United States. this may not be effected
for at least a day or two.
Meanwhile. however. an accurate out
line Of the principal points of the
of the government here, and already
has received thoughtful consideration.
Cites Terrible Conditions.
In eloquent language the Pontifr de-
scribes the terrible conditions existing
in Europe. which. he declares. IS head
ed for destruction unless the bel
ligerents are willing to listen to the
appeals of disinterested friends 10
cease a suicidal war. Such conditions.
the Pope feels. amply Justify him in
taking the present opportunity to sug-
gest what may be, he hopes. at least
a foundation upon which peace negoti-
atoms may be initiated.
are only suggested as a rough basis
for such negotiations. and he realizes
! that the details in all their comp1exity
must be worked out patiently and in a
spirit of Cancellation by the belliger-
ents themselves.
Would Avoid Future Wars
| Unqualified approval OF President
| Wilson's plan for the avoidance OF fu-
| ture wars by some form or fnterna-
tional organization which shall nave
| behind IL the necessary power to en-
force its judgments is given by Pope
4 Benedict, who declares that along with
| such a splendid project must go an
effective arrangement for reduction OF
| ornaments to q point just sufncient
| for defensive purposes or TO carry out
the mandates of the world court.
| IT is inconceivable. the Pope holds.
that any permanent peace can be main
tanned unless the various peoples are
willing to gather in an amity founded
upon a recognition OF national rights.
Against Indemnities.
/ ANY attempt to prevent free economic
action between the belligerents. the Pope
points out, would be disastrous: there
| fore. he says there must be freedom OF
the seas in all that the term implies.
The pontir declares that so extensive
has been the injury to all of the bellig-
erents that there can be no thought
VI
In a spirit of concilia ton and jus
tice, he says. all the belligerents must
! submit to accept the losses they have
| sustained except in the matter OF ter
| ritory and beside these questions OF in
demnity and reparation the Pope de-
/ clares that there must be no continue
| ton of the war by an economic struggle
| for supremacy thereafter, which would
| be purely evil.
This refers directly to the so-called
| Faris economic conference. which was
! followed by one in Vienna, where the
| effort was made to bind the belliger-
| ents on either side after the war to
/ have practically no commercial rela-
tions with their late enemies.
Would Restore Territory.
On the important question Of the dis
position of occupied territory and the
| territorial ambitions of the helliger-
ents the Pope, by way of preface. ad-
| nlits that special cases might justify
| special consideration and still be adj
| justed in conformity with the princi-
| general proposition. he feels that q
| proper basis for discussion would be
| the restoration at once OF all territory
now in enemy occupation.
That would involve liberation of Bel
gium. leaving not a trace Of German
control. political or military. The Same
principle of unincumbered freedom in
it's full sense, he says. should prevail
4
Not only must French territory now
occupied by Germany be restored to
| France, he says. but. on the other hand,
all German colonies which have been
occupied by England. Portugal. Bel
gium and Japan should be returned to
Germany.
| As to Italia Irredentia.
The more difficult question of Italia
1 Irredentia. the Pope thinks. should be
examined in a spirit of Cancellation and
| fairness. and that a special considera-
| tion in the settlement should be given
| to national aspirations.
| Likewise does the Pope hold that the
complex questions involved in readjust-
ment OF the Balkan states should be
considered in the same spirit Of equity
| and justice. He has especially IN mind
Armenia, the Balkans and Poland. and
the intimation conveyed is that these
questions can safely be dealt with by
direct diplomatic exchanges between
the beIligerents. once an agreement 10
J reached upon the general principles OF
| recognition of national aspirations and
| justice.