The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-09-06
WILSON TO
BENEDICT XIV
Reply to the Pope's Plea
For Peace One of the
Greatest State Papers
Ever Written.

The reply of President Wilson to
the appeal of Pope Benedict XIV for
peace is characterized as one of the
greatest state papers ever written.
1t is as follows:
August 27, 1917.
To His Holiness Benedictus, XIV,
Pope
In acknowledged of the commu-
nication of Your Holiness to the bel
igerent peoples, dated August /.
1917, the President of the United
States requests me to transmit the
following reply;
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terri
Bile 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 1t, 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. 1t 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 II 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 general conformation, disarmament,
and a concert of nations based upon
an acceptance of the principle of ar
L, %s - r,sv 1sa,.
freedom of the seas be established;
and that the territorial claims of
France and Italy, the pCrpleXing
problems of the Balkan states, and
the restitution of Poland be left to
such eoncilatory 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.
1t is manifest that no part of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the
status quo ante bellum 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 con-
tralied by an irresponsible govern
meht which, having secretly planned
to dominate the world, proceeded 20
carry the plan out without regard
either to the sacred obligations Of
Treaty or the established prac-
ticas and long-cherished principles
of international action and honor;
which chose its own time for the
war; delivered its blow feFcely and
suddenly; stopped at no barrier
either CT law or of mercy; swept a
whole continent within the tide OF
bloCd-not the blood of soldiers
only. but the blood of innocent wo-
men and children also and of the
helpless poor. and now stands baIk-
ed but not defeated the enemy of
four-hfths Cf the world. This power
is not the German people. II IS |
the ruthless master of the German
people. II is no business of ours
how that great people caRa under |
its control or submitted with tenn |
pCrary 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.
To deal with such a power by way
Of peace upon the plan proposed by |
His Holiness the Pope would, so far
Is we can see, involve a cuparation
Of its strength and a renewal of its
policy, would make it necessary to
,reate a permanent hostile combina-
ion OF nations against the German
people, who are its instruments; and
would result IN abandoning the new
porn Russia to the intrigue, the
subtle interference, and the
certain 0unter-revotution which
would be attempted by all the NAL
en- influences to which the German
government has of late accustomed
he world Can peace be based up
N a restitution of it's power Or up
N any word of honor it could
JIedge in n treaty of settlement and
Responsible statesmen must now
.verywhere see, if they never saw
Defore, that no peace can rest Sc
urely upon political or economic
meant TO benefit some
Iations and cripple or embarrass
thers, upon Tindictive action CT anyl
ort, or Gny kind of revenge or de-
ibeTate injury. The American pee
lie have suffered intolerable wrongs
t the hands of the Imperial German
Government, but they desire no re-
risal upon the German people, who
ave themselves suffered all things
n this war, which they did not
hocse. They believe that peace
hould rest upon the rights of peo-
les, not the rights of governments
the rights OF peoples great or {
mall, weak or powerful-their equal
light TO freedom and security and
and to a participa-
ion upon fair terms in the econom-
: opportunities of the world, the
erman people Of course included if
hey will accept equality and not
eek domination.
The test, therefore, of every plan I
{ peace is this. Is it based upon
he faith OF all the peoples involved !
r merely upon the word OF an am a
itious and intriguing government, I
n the one hand, and of group of c
zee peoples. on the other? This is
test which goes to the root of the S
latter; and it is the test which y
lust be applied. l
The purposes of the United States t
this war are known to the whole 7
orld, to every people to whom the u
nth has been permitted to come. I
hey do not need to be stated again. t
'e seek no material advantage of t
ny kind. We believe that the In n
,lerable wroHgs done in this war n
7 the furious and brutal power {
the imperial German Government G
Ight to be repaired, but not at the n
,pense of the sovereignty of any r
sople.-rather VindiGation of the e
both of those that are a