Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-29

Washington Aug 29.-President Will
sons message, replying to Pope Bene-
diets peace appeal and stating why
the United States must continue the
war until the world is freed of Prus-
sianism, signed by Secretary Lansing,
and delivered at the Vatican late yes
terday, follows:
Washington, D. c., Aug. p. 1917.-To
His Holiness, Benedictus XIV, Pope:
In Acknowledgement of the communi-
cation of your Holiness to the belliger-
ent peoples, dated Aug. l, 1871 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 o fhs 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 it 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.
It is not a mere cessation Of arms he
/ Desires It IS stable and enduring
| peace. This agony must not be gone
| through with again and it must be
| ma tier of very sober Judgment what
will insure us against it.
His Holiness, in substance, proposes
| that we return to the status quo ante
| bellum, and that then there be gen.
| eral conformation, disarmament, and a
| concert Of nations based upon an &C
! ceptance of the principle Of arbitra-
! ton; that by a similar concert free
| dom of the seas be established, and the
| territorial claims of France and Italy,
| the perplexing problems Of the Balkan
states, and the restitution Of Poland be
| left to such conciliatory adjustments as
| may be possible in the new temper of
such a peace, due regard being paid to
the aspirations of the peoples whose
political fortunes and affiliations will
be involved.
Tyranny and Brutality Must End.
| TT Is manifest that no part Of this
program can be successfully carried
| out UNLESS tHe IeSlltutlOu VI lAS
status quo ante furnishes firm and
satisfactory basis for it.
| "The object of this war Is to deliver
the free peoples of the world from the
menace and the actual power of vast
military esta blshment controlled by an
| irresponsible government which, hav-
! ing secretly planned to dominate the
world, proceeded to carry the plan out
without regard either to the sacred OBJ
| legations of treaty or the long estab-
| lished practices and long cherished
| principles of international action and
honor; which cose it's own time for
the war; delivered it's blow fiercely and
suddenly; stopped at no barrier either
of law or of mercy; swept whole
continent within the tide of blood-not
the blood of soldiers only, but the blood
OF innocent women and children also,
and Of, the helpless and the poor-and
now stands baked but not defeated, the
enemy of four-fifths of the world.
MiIitarism Ruthless Master Of People
This power is not the German
people. 1t is the ruthless master Of the
| German people. It Is no business oil
ours how that great people came under
its control or submitted with temper.
airy zest to the domination Of it's pur-
/ pose but 1t is our business to see te
/ 1t that the history of the rest of the
world is no longer left to it's hand
ling.
ITO deal with such a power by way
of peace upon the plan proposed BY
his Holiness. the pope, would, so far
as we can see, involve recuperatior
i OF its strength and renewal of til
policy; would make it necessary to ere.
ate a permanent hostile combination