New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-29
AMERICAS REPLY
TO P0PE'S MESSAGE
President Explains Why Terms
Of Note Are Not Acceptable y

Washington, Aug. 29.-The follow
kfg is President Wilson's answer to
the peace proposals Of Pope Benedict
XIV.
To His Holiness Benedictus XIV, Pope:
In acknowledgment of the COM
munication Of your Holiness to tho
belligerent peoples dated Aug. l,
1917, the President of the United
States requests me to transmit the
Allowing 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
humane and generous motives which
prompted it, and must fervently wish
that we might take the path of peace
he so persuasively points out But
1t would be folly to take it if it
1fres 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 a mere cessa-
ton of arms he desires; it is a stable
and enduring peace. This agony must
not be gone through with again. and
1t must be matter of very sober
judgment what will insure us against
It,
His Holiness in substance proposes
Tort we return to the status quo
ante-bellum and that then there be
general conformation, disarmament,
and a concert of nations based upon
AN acceptance of the principle of
arbitration; that by similar con-
cert freedom of the seas to be es-
tablished; and that the territorial
claims of France and Italy, the per-
~, D-11 .4.~%
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 people whose
political fortunes and affiliations will
be involved.
1t is manifest that no part Of this
program can successfully carried out
unless the restitution Of the stauts quo |
Rk9e furnishes a 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 establishment, |
controlled by an irresponsible govern
ment, which, having secretly planned !,
to dominate the warld, proceeded to |
carry the plan out without regard |
either to the sacred obligations of |
u eiJy VI luS lolS -SSIoOllolACu VI
tees and long cherished principles Of
action and honor; which
chose it's own time for the war; de-
livered its blow fiercely and suddenly;
stopped at no barrier, either OF law or
Of mercy; swept a whole continent
within the tide of blood-not the blood
Of soldiers only, but the blood OF 1nno-
cost 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. 1t Is the ruthless master OF
the German people. 1t is no business
of ours how that great people came
under its control or submitted with
temporary zest to the domination of its
pufsose; but 1t is our business to see
to it that the history Of the rest Of the !
world is no longer left to it's handling. |
To deal with such power by way |
of peace upon the plan proposed by |
his Holiness the Pope would. so far as
we can see involve recuperat1on OF
its strength and renewal, OF It's
policy: would make it necessary to |
crate a permanent hostile combina-
ton of nations against the German
people, who are it's instruments; and
would result in abandoning the new
born Russia to the intrigue, the mani
fold subtle interference, and the GER
tain counter-revolution which would
be attempted by all the malgn influ-
ences to which the German Govern
ment has of late accustomed the
world.
Can peace be based upon a restitu-
ton of it's power or upon any word of |
honor it could pledge in &, treaty Of
settlement and accommodation.
Responsible statesmen must now
everywhere see, if they never saw be-