Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-09-01
Explains to Pope that Peace
Can Net Come Until Ger
mans Have New Ruler.
KAISER HAS LIED
AND rs A VANDAL
Mastery Statement of Aims of
America in Entering War For
Safety of Worlds Ideal of Freedom
and Honor.

President Wilson has rejected the
popes peace proposals, In note
dispatched Monday last and made
public here Tuesday night, the presi-
dent says that, while every heart
not blinded and hardened by the ter
rible war must be touched by the
moving appeal of his holiness II
would be folly to take the path of
peace he points out If 1t does not in
fact lead to the goal he peroposes.
10 deal with such Il power as the
present rulers of Germany upon Pope
Benedict's plan, declares the presi-
dent, would involve a reeuperation
Of the strength and renewal OF the
world domination Of that power
now baked but not defeated, after
sweeping a continent with the blood
Of innocent women and children and
he helpless poor as well as Of soldiers.
Permanent peace must be based
upon the faith of all the peoples and
upon justice and fairness and the
common rights of mankind, he adds,
and I'VE cannot take the word of
the present rulers of Germany as a
guarantee Of anything that Is to
endure unless explicitly supported
by such conclusive evidence OF the
viii and purpose of the German peo-
pie themselves as the other peoples
OF the world would be justified In
accepting.
The text of the note follows:
August 27, 1917
"To His Holiness,
Benedicitus XIV,
Pope:
In acknowledgment of the com
of Your Holiness to the
beligerent peoples, dated August /
1917. the president of the United
States requests me to transmit the
following reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must be touched by this moving
appeal of his holiness, the pope must
feel the dignity and force of the hui
name and generous motives which
prompted it and must fervently wish
that we might take the path of
peace he SO persuasively points out.
But it would be folly to take 1t If IT
does not in fact lead to the goal he
proposes. Our response must be
based upon the stern facts and upon
nothing else 1t is not mere cessa
tion of arms he Desires II is stable
and enduring peace. This agony
must not be gone through with again
and it must be a matter of very sober
judgment what will insure u
against It,
"Hl holiness in substance pro-
poses that we return to the status
luo ante bollum and chat then there
% general condonltion, disarma
nent, and a concert OF nations, based
lpon an acceptance Of the principle
If arbitration; that b. a similar con
,ert freedom Of the seas be estab
ished; and that the territorial
.laimj OF France and Italy; the per-
,lexing problems Of the Balken
tates and the restitution of Poland
,e left to such conciiatory adjust
nents as may be possible in the new
emper of such peace, due regard be
ng paid to the aspirations of the
copies whose political fortunes and
will be involved
lit is manifest that no part of this
rogram can be successfully carried
Mt unless the restitution Of the
tatus quo ante furnishes firm
nd satisfactory basi3 for it. The
bject of this war Is to deliver the
rec peoples of the world from the
lenace and the actual power of a
asst military establishment control
ID By an irresponsible government
.hiah. having secretly planned to
0minate the world, proceeded to
AIRY the plan out without regard
ther to the sacred obligations of
eaty or the long established prac
ces and long cherished principles of
hich chose its own time for the war;
1liyered its blow fiercely and sud
enly; stopped at no barrier either
law or of mercy swept whole