The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-09-12
TELLS PoN7IFF FOLLY TO TAKE
PATH OF PEACE HE POINTS
OUT IF PROPOSALS DO NOT
LEAD TO GOAL.
LOOKS TO TEUToN PEOPLE
TO RESTORE WORLD FAITH
Says Every Heart Not Hardened and
Blinded by Terrible War Will Be
Touched by Moving Appeal Of
His Holiness-Cannot Take
Word of Teuton Rulers,

Washington, Aug. 29.-President
Wilson has rejected the Pope's peace
proposals. In note dispatched and
made public here the President says
that every heart not blinded and hard
ened by the terrible war must be
touched by the moving appeal of His
Holiness, it would be folly to take the
path of peace he points out if it does
not in fact lead to the goal he pro-
poses.
To deal with such power as the
present ruler of Germany upon Pope
Benedict's plan, declares the Presi-
dent, would involve a recuperation of
the strength and renewal of the world
domination of that power, now baked
but not defeated after sweeping a.
continent with blood of innocent wom-
en- and children and the helpless Door
as we'll as of soldiers.
Permanent peace must be based up
on the faith of all the peoples and upon
justice and fairness and the common
sights of mankind, he adds.
Complete Text of Note.
The complete text of the not fol-
lows:
His Holiness, Benedictus XIV,
Pope:
In acknowledgement of the COM
munication OF Your Holiness to the
bellieerent peoples, dated August /,
1917, the President of the United
States requests me to transmit the fol-
lowing 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 it, if it does
not in fact lead to the goal he pro-
poses Our response must be based
upon the stern facts and upon nothing
else. 1t is not a mere cessation of
arms he desires; it is a stable and en-
during peace. This agony must not be
gone through with again, and it must
be matter of very sober judgment
that 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
concert of nations based upon an &C.
ccptance Of the principle of arbitra-
ticn; 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 restitution
of Poland be left to such conciliatory
adjustments as may be possible in the
new temper Of such a peace, due re.
gard being paid to the aspirations of
the peoples whose political fortunes
and affiliations will be involved.
Free Peoples Menaced.
1T is manifest that no part of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the status
quo ante bellum furnishes firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
Of this war is to deliver the free peo
pies Of the world from the menace and
the actual power of a vast military es
Enlistment controlled by an irrespon.
sible government, which, having secret
ly planned to dominate the world, pro
ceeded to carry the plan out without
regard either to the sacred obligations
of treaty or the long established prac
tees and long cherished principles OF
international action and honor; which
chose its own time for the war; de-
livered it's blow fiercely and suddenly;
stopped at no barrier, either law OF
mercy swept whole continent with
-. the tide of blood-not the blood OF
soldiers only, but the blood of limo
cent women and children also, and OF
the helpless poor; and now stands
baked, but not defeated, the enemy OF
four-fifths of the world. This power
is not the German people. It is the
ruthless master of the German people
1t is no business of ours how that
great people came under it's control or
submitted with temporary zest to the
domination of it's purpose; but it is
our business to see to it that the his