The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-31
PRESIDENT WILSON REJECTS
POPE'S PEACE PROPOSALS

Reply Says Plans Proposed Weuid
Allow Prussians Time to Recup.
crate and Take up Cudgef-
Again
Washington, Aug. "2S.-Presldent
Wilson has rejected the Pope's peace
proposals.
In note dispatched last night and
made public here tonight the Presi-
dent says that while every heart not
blinded and hardened by the terrible
war must be touched by the moving
appeal of His Holiness, it would be
folly to take the path of peace ne
points out if it does not in fact lead
to the goal he proposes.
To deal with such power as the
present rulers of Germany upon Pope
Benedict's plan, declares the Presi-
dent, would involve a recuperation Of
the strength and renewal OF the
world domination policp of that pow
sr, now baked, but not defeated af-
ter sweeping a continent with the
blood of innocent women and children
and the helpless poor. as well as OF
soldiers.
Permanent peace must be based upon
the faith of all Of the peoples and up
on justice and fairness, and the COM
mon rights of mankind, he adds, and
t'we cannot take the word of the
crescent rulers of Germany as guar
antee of anything that is to endure,
unless explicitly supported by such
conclusive evidence of the will and
purpose OF the German people them
selves, as the other peoples Of the
world would be justified in accepting .
The text ef she note fellows:
..ro his Holiness-
sBenedictas xY.Pope:'
onI acHn6waedgeneHt osp the com
munseation Of your Hol5ness to. the
belligerent peoples. dated August I,
1917, the President, ef the United
) States requests, me to transmit the
following reply: a., &
Presidents Reply q
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,
ne so persausiyely points out. But it
would be folly to take it, if it does
not in fact lead to the goal he propos-
es. Our response must be based upon
the stern facts and upon nothing else.
It is not a mere cessation Of arms he
desires: It is stable and enduring
peace This agony must not be gone
through with again and it must be a
matter of very sober judgment what
will insure US against it.
Pope's Proposals
ssHis Holiness in stubstasce propos-
es that we return to the status quo
ante bellu1n, and that there then be a
general conformation, disarmament and
aeoncert of nations based upon an
acceptance of the principle of arbitra-
ton; that by~a similar concert free
dom of the seas be established; and
that the territorial claims of France
and Italy, the perplexing problems Of
the Balkan States, and the restitution
of Poland be left to such conciliators
adjustments as may be possible OF the
peoples whose political fortunes and
affiliations will be involved
Objects Of War
"It is manifest that no part of the
program can be successfully carried
out unless he restitution Of the stat
us quo ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
of this war is to deliver the free peo-
ples of the world from the menace
and the actual power OF vast mill
tary establishment controlled by an
irresponsible government which hav-
ing secretly planned to dominate the
world, proceeded to carry the plan
out without regard either to the sa-
cred obligations of treaty or the long
established practices and long cher
zala nrincinles of international action