The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-08-31
Wilson Rejects Popes
Plan For Peace

""@O1 nas ieJeCteo the popeS peace
proposals. In note dispatched las,
night and made public here tonight
the President says that while every
heart not blinded and hardened by the
terrible war must be touched by the
moving appeal of His Holiness, i,
would be folly to take the path OF
peace he points out if it does not in
tact lead to the goal he proposes.
Following is the full text of Presi-
dent Wilson's reply.
Presidents Note to Pope
To His Holiness:
Benedictus, XIV, Pope:
In acknowledgement Of the commu-
nication OF your Holiness to the belli-
gerent peoples, dated August /. 1917,
the President OF the United States re-
quests me to transmit the following
reply:
Every heart that has not been blind
ed and hardened by this terrible war
must be touched by this moving ap-
peal 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 fpeace
he so persuasively points out. But
it would be folly to take it if it does
not in fact lead to the goal he pro-
poses. Our response must be based
upon the stern facts and nothing else
It is not mere cessation Of arms he
desires; it is a 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 us against it.
His Holiness in substance proposes
that we return to the status quo ante
bellum, and that then there be a 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
that the territorial claims of France
and Italy, the perplexing problems
OF the Balkan states, and the restitu-
ton Of Poland be left such concilia-
tory adjustments as may be possible
of the peoples whose political fortunes
and affiliations will be involved.
Military Menace
Must Be Removed.
1t is manifest that no part Of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the sta
tuS quo ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for it, The free
peoples of the world from the menace
and the actual power of a vast mill
tary establishment controlled by an
irresponsible government, which, hay
ing secretly planned to dominate the
world, proceeded to carry the plan out
without regard either to the sacred
obligations Of treaty or the long es-
tablished practices and long cherished
principles of international action and
honor; which chose its own time for
the war; delivered its blow fcrcely
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 poor:
and now stands baked but not defeat
ed, the enemy OF four-hfths of the
world. This power is not the German
people. 1t is the ruthless master Of
the German people. 1t is no business
Iof ours how that gerat people came
under its control or submitted with
temporary zest to the domination of
its purpose; but it is our business to
see to it that the history Of the rest
OF the world is no longer left to its
handling
Would Mean Renewal
Of Present Policy.
To 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 recuperation
OF its strength and renewal OF its
policy: would make it necessary to
create permanent hostile combina-
ton OF nations against the German