The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-24
His Holiness Amplifies Recent
Appeal to Nations.
Believes 1t Should Particularly
Appeal to Americans.
REITERATE IT WASN'T INSPIRED
Appeal Not Suggested or Di-
rected by Amy Belligerent.
Storm of Govt Imposed by
Arms Cannot Prevail"


Copyright 1917, blythe United Press.>
New York, Aug. 24.-Pope Bene-
dict. il. U statement issued thru the
papal secretary of state and the Unit
ed Press, today gave the world his
views of democracy in relations to
the world war, as follows:
History teaches US that form of
government imposed by arms does not
and cannot live.
Democracy will receive SUCH an inn
pulse from the war that wisdom must
prevent it deteriorating into excessive
forms such an anarchism."
Considered Wilson's Appeal.
The statement was in response to
request from the United Press that
the pope amplify. his appeal for peace
with special reference to the Ameri-
can demand that the world be made
safe for democracy"
His Holiness stated that his refer
ences to disarmament and freedom of
the seas were based directly on Pres
ident Wilson's address to the senate
He took up every point in his appeal.
explaining that it was chiefly based
men of the warning nations. Rejec-
ton of the appeal, the pontiff de-
clared, would mean reversal of tho
| sentiments previously expressed by
these officials. He denied emphatical-
ly that it was inspired by any warning
nation, thus directly replying to the
charges that the appeal was made in
behalf of the central powers.
No Reference to Democracy.
Explaining why he made no refer
| ence to democracy in his appea: to
the nations, the pope said he refrain
| ed because of the foregoing views and
| 'tout of respect for the free will OF
4 the- people themselves, who, having
| the right of universal suffrage may
| choose whatever form of yovernmen,
they please"
Obviously in response to criticism
from entente nations as to his refer
ence to Belgium, in the peace appeal,
the pontiff today declared that sit is
necessary to remark that as to con-
donation of damages caused by the
war, there is an exception applying
particularly to Belgium"
Text of the vatican's Message.
BY JOHN III. HEARELY.
| Copyright, 1917, by United Press
! Rome. Aug. 24.-The United Press
was authorized today by the papal
secretary of state to make the follow
1
THE first first two points in the
pontifical appeal for peace, treating
respectively of disarmament and free
dom of the seas, were suggested by
President Wilson's well known mes
sage to the senate.
| Consequently we are inclined to
believe that they will now find, on the
part Of the American people. tie same
| reception that they enjoyed when
President Wilson proclaimed them at
the capitol.
"The third and fourth points.
wherein mutual conformation of war
. expenses and damages as well mu-
tual restitution of occupied territories,
was proposed. were formulated from
public speeches recently delivered by
statesmen of the different belligerent
nations. and from resolutions passed
by their respective parliaments.
| Therefore. the anne statesmen can
not refute them now without contra
dieting themselves.
Moreover, it is necessary to remark
as to conformation of damages caused
by the war. that there is an exception
applying particularly to Belgium.
THE fifth and sixth points concern
special territorial questions abou
which the Holy Father does not ant
could not propose any definite and
confines himself to expressing the
wish that said questions shall be ex-
amined in a concilatory spirit, taking
into consideration. as far as possible
any just aspirations of the people.
| 1.-THE Holy See wishes to emphasize
the fact that the appeal was not sug
gested by any of the belligerent pow
ers and was not inspired for the par
ticular advantage of any warning ma
ton.
"WorId Safe for Democracy"
FINALLY. the Holy Father saiC
nothing about democracy and the
characterization of any existing gov
eminent because history teaches u,
that form of government imposed by
arms does not and cannot live and a1st
out of respect of the free will of the
people themselves. who having tht
right of universal suffrage. ma,
choose whatever form of government
/ they please.
For the rest the democracy will
receive such an impulse from the war
that wisdom must prevent it deterior
ating into any excessive form, such a!
lanarchism.