Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-08-17


, The appeal was transmitted in a
letter by Cardinal Gasparri, papal sec
retary, and>is as follows:
To the Leaders of the Belligerent
Peoples; Since the beginning of our
pontihcate the horrors of terrible
war let loose in Europe we have in
view above everything three things
to preserve:
Perfect impartiality towards all bel
ligerents as is suitable for him who
is the common father and who loves
all his children with equal affection.
Continually to attempt to do all
the good possible and that without
exception OF person, without distinc-
ton of nationality or religion, as is
| dictated TO us by the universal law
OF charity, with which the supreme
spiritual charge has conhded to US
with Christ.
! Finally, as or pacific mission also
requires to omit nothing as long as
it was in our power which might con-
tribute to hasten the end of this ca
lamity by trying to lead people and
their leaders to more moderate reso-
] luton, to hasten serene deliberation
of peace just and durable.
Whoever has followed our work
during those three painful years which
have just passed has been able easily
to recognize that il we had always re-
NAMED faithful to our resolve of abb
solute impartiality and to our attitude
Of benevolence we have not ceased
to exhort the peoples and the bel
ligerent brothers again to become
brethren, although publicity has not
been given to all that we have done
to attain this very noble thing.
Towards the end of the first year
OF the war, we addressed to the ma
tions in conflict most lively exhorta-
tions and more we indicated the part
/ to be followed to arrive at a stable
and honorable peace for all. Unfort-
unately our appeal was not heard and
the war continued.
Desperately for another two years
with all its horrors it became even
more cruel and extended over the
earth, over the sea and in the air, and
one saw desolation and death descend
upon the cities without defense, upon
peaceful villages and Oh their inno-
cent population and now no one car
imagine how the suferings of all
would be increased and aggravated
if other months or, worse still, other
years are about to be added to this
sanquinary triennium.
Is this civilized world to be moth
ing more than a field of death? And
Europe-so glorious and so flourish
ing--is it going, as il stricken by a
universal madness, to run to the abyss
and to lend its hand to its own sui.
eide?
In such a terrible situation as in the
presence of menace SO serious we who
have no particular political aim who
doAnot hsten to suggestions or to the
interests of any of the belligerent par
ties, but are solely compelled by a
sentiment of our supreme duty as the
common father of the faithful by the
solicitation of our children who i'm
plore our intervention and Our pacify-
ing work.
Through the voice. even Of human
ity and of reason, we once more emit
the cry of peace and we renew a
pressing appeal to those who hold in
their hands the destinies of nations.
But in oder no longer to speak in
general terms as the circumstances
had counseled us in the past we now
wish to make more concrete and
practical proposals and to invite the
governments of the belligerent peo-
pies to come to an agreement upon
the following points, which seem to
be basis of just and durable peace,
leaving to them the task of analyz-
ing and completing them:
First of all the fundamental points
must be that the material force OF
arms be substituted by the moral force
of right from which shall arise fair
agreement by all for = simultaneous
~.