Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-09-01
FULL TEXT OF POWERFUL NOTE

WASHINGTON. Aug. 29.-Presi
dent Wilson, in a communication
signed by Secretary Lansing, mad,
public here last night, replied TO tht
peace proposals OF Pope Benedic
Ky that the United States must con
tiaue to fight until it Is satisfied
that a peace treaty would be more
than another scrap of paper 10 b.
torn by Germany's rulers at will
His note is q firm rejection of peace
al this time.
I'VE cannot take the word of the
present rulers of Germany as a guar
antee of anything that is to endure.
he says. And later, he adds: 1--WE
must await some new evidence o.
the purpose of the great peoples Of
the central empires. God grant i
may be given soon in way to re
store the confidence of all peoples
everywhere in the faith OF nations
and the possibility of coyenanted
peace
The note comes as a climax tc
the remarkable series of state docu
ments in which President Wilson la
argued the cause Of world democrac.
against autocracy II the high cour
Of public opinion, and accepted mors
and more by the people of all the al
lied countries as expressing their
ideals sesss,s.
There appears to be no doubt thai
the United States was selected tc
make the answer before the world
In advance of all others. Whether
the entente nations will send exten
sive replies is not known here,
1t is regarded as probable thai
they will in large measure adopt the
Presidents reasoning for their owl
and send notes Of Endorsement.
The general tenor of the Presi
dents reply had been anticipated
everywhere, but there was no inklins
OF the foreeful terms he would EN-
ploy to say that the world can have
no faith in the autocratic government
Of Germany.
Students OF diplomacy see IN his
denunciation of the military au
tocracy fresh appeal to the war
ridden German people TO throw of
their military masters and joir
democracy with a government fit Il
deal with the remainder of the world
Although this appeal will probabl,
not be permitted to become known
In Germany until the autocracy ha'
attempted to mold the temper of th'
people for its reception by a de
nunciation through a government
controlled press of what has beer
characterized as interference in thu
internal affairs OF Germany. the hop
Is thai it will fall on fertile soil.
considering the extraordinar.
character of the Presidents commu
nication, its immense Importance il
definitely terminating for the presen
al lesst all efforts to reach com
promise peace and the assured fac
that il represents the view of all o
the entente powers joined wit
America in the war against Germany
the time consumed in the prepars
uon OF the reply was renarkabl,
short.
That the Presidents response t
The Pope's overtures would be
Courteous but firm declination ha
Deen generally believed. so that; i
this respect at least his comunics
Ton viii cause no surprise.
The feature that is certain TO fl
public attention in the cold determ
nation not even to permit the sui
lect TO peace negotiations TO b
preached so long as the evil an
nominating forces of autocracy an
miiitarism control the central pow
ers.
HVery precaution was taken
prevent a premature disclosure o
tue contents OF the Presidents n
Spouse. Few of the members Of tn
caoinet were informed on the subjeS
entii yesterdays cabinet meeting
monday night the document wa
handed over 10 the trusted te
esraphers Of the State Departme.
% % sent on its way by cable
ambassador Page isasflondon. WI
was to deliver it to Foreign Minists
oatiour for transmission to Rome
'M Of presidsnt's Reply 20 Pop