The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-16

able peace:
Substitution of moral force of right,
for the material force of arms.
} Reciprocal diminution of arma-
ments, leaving only sufficient arma-
Iment for the maintenance Of public
order.
Substitution Of arbitration for arm
lies.
Each state must accept the interna-
itional decision according to establish
ed rules and be subject to punishment
lie refusing to submit to arbitration or
accept the decision.
True liberty and freedom Of the
iseas.
Restitution OF all occupied terri
tories.
Evacuation of Belgium, with guaran-
tee of her full political and economic
independence.
AS for the Irredenta territory, it is
hoped that in view Of the advantages
of a durable peace with disarmament,
1.-THE disputing countries will be willing
to examine each question in concil-
!iatory spirit.
The question of the Balkans, Poland
and Armenia to be examined in the
same spirit of equity and justice.
England was frankly surprised that
the pope should place the armies of
Germany and the allies on an absolute
lplane, there being no word Of censure,
no protest against the Belgian horrors,
no mention of expecting from Ger
many some statement that would give
the allies guarantees that such agree
ments as his holiness suggests might
not in the future be declared scraps
Iof paper" and thrown aside.
1.-THE whole world recognizes that
the honor of the armies of both, sides
is safe" the pope asserts.
The honor of the army which invad-
ed Belgium which massacred women
and children, which shot Edith Cavell,
(which deported helpless men and wo-
men into slavery, which ruthlessly de-
lvastated the rich fields and orchards
of France in it's recent strategic re-
treat" is therefore put on level with
1.-THE honor Of the army of France, and
England, fighting in defense of their
homes. of national honor and against
an autocracy that threatened to en-
gulf the world. England refuses to re-
gard the honor of such armies in the
same light.
The pope's message, which is ap-
proximately 1000 words long, is de-
voted in its beginning to a recitation
of the horrors of the war and to the
efforts tae vatican has made from
time to time to restore peace.
It is pointed out that the vatican
has been entirely impartial. The
Ispread of the conflagration is pointed
out, the increasing horrors and suffer
ing, after which the pope asks:
SIS this civilized world to be moth
ing more than a field of death? and
Europe SO glorious and SO f1ourishing,
is it going, as If stricken by a uni
versal madness to run the abyss and
lend it's hand to its own suicide?"
The portions of the pope's message
in which he outlines terms follows:
1.-The fundamentals must be that
| the material force of arms be substi-
tuted by the moral force of right,
, through which shall arise fair agree
fnent by all for reciprocal dfminution
OF armament in accordance with es-
tablished rules and guarantees, in
! measure sufficient for maintenance Of
, public order in the states. This in
wolves, In addition, the substitution
for armies Of the institution OF arbt-
tration in accordance with rules to be
; Established and penalties to be impos-
, ed on states which would refuse to
, submit questions to arbitration or &C
) cept its decisions.
. with the supremacy of right thus
/! established, true liberty and freedom
| of the seas would be assured, contrib
/ uting to removal Of many causes of
: conflict and opening all new sources
1 of prosperity and progress. AS to
f damages and war expenses, we see
no way of solving the question other
v than by submitting general principal
: OF complete and reciprocal co-ordina-
i ton which would be justified by the
: great benefit to be derived from dis
l armament.
+ There are particular reasons for
q certain cases. They require the liber-
t alton with justice and equity, but
these agreements with the advantages
T to be from them derived are impos-
e Isible without reciprocal restitution Of
s territory now occupied.
u LAS to Germany, there should be
complete evacuation of Belgium with
Il guarantees of her full political, mill
try and economic independence.
ALSO the evacuation of French ter
L ritory and similar resolutions of Ger
d man colonies by the other belligerents
with regard to territorial questions
: as those existing between Italy and
5 Austria md between Germany and
!. France, there is reason to hope that in
: view Of the advantages of Z durable
: peace with disarmament, the parties
' would wish to examine the matters
with conciliatory spirit, considering
the aspirations Of the people and the
general welfare Of humanity
"A spirit of equity and Justice
: should be followed in examination of
> other questions such as those relating
! to the Balkans, Armenia and Poland,
/ whose traditions and sufrerings during
the present war should attract the
= sympathies of all nations.
. "In presenting these conditions to
p you We are animated by a desire for
!, their acceptance and to see the con-
. clusion at an early date of the strug-
gle which appears more and more a
). useless massacre.
) 1.-THE whole world recognizes that
8 the honor of the armies of both sides