Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-29
LASTING PEACE IS
i. SIS AIM WILSON
WRITES TO PONT|FF
PRESIDENT MUST BE ASSURED
THAT kUTOCRACY WILL NEVER
AGAIN BE A MENACE TO De
MocRAcY.

Wilson late yesterday rejected the
peace proposals of Pope Benedict XIV
at this time,
In note sent to the Pope he de
clared the United States must con
tinue to fight until il is satisfied a
peace treaty would be more than
another scrap Of paper to be torn
by Germany's rulers at viii.
While the Presidents note is a re-
lection of peace at this time, it leaves
the road open for further discussion
and proposals.
Wilson Declares for Restoration.
President Wilson declares fatty
against an economic war after the
war; against annexations or indem-
mites other than resolutions, such
as payment to Belgium and the re
turn of Alsace-I .orraine to France.
President Wilson completed the
draft of his note late yesterday. He
had spent two weeks preparing 1t
Thru the State Department he had
been in cable communication with all
the Entente governments and had on
his desk fun statements of their
views. Further information Of these
views had been received by him thru
the Entente embassies here,
In addition he had at hand a vast
amount of confidential information
gathered by American diplomats and
agents at points contiguous 10 Ger
many. indicating the condition OF al
fairs within that empire and within
the borders of its allies, especially
Austria.
President Worked on Note at Night.
The President did most of his work
on the note at night Almost every
evening was devoted to the informa-
ton at hand. the views Of the gov
erpments with which the United
States is making common war and
the views of the Presidents conf
Dental advisers.
During the last week it is said, he
caves special attention to the phrase
ology of his reply. so there could be
no possible msconstruction OF his
views, no possible misinterpretation
OF his desire to see a peace concluded
as soon as the United States could
feel surety that peace would be
lasting peace and not merely an arm
istice for Germany to recnperate and
again menace the welfare OF the
world
It was after the dinner hour last
night that the final draft was com.
pleted President Wilson handed 1t
to Secretary of State Lansing before
the latter went to the garden party
of the Pan-American Union. given in
honor of the Japanese mission.
Note Sent Thru Ambassador.
Mr. Lansing. in evening clothes,
went into the darkened State Depart
ment, his assistants in coding mes
sages first having been advised by
telephone to be on hand.
It was not until after midnight
that the final phrase had been coded
and placed on the telegraph wires to
the cable Offices in New York
The note was addressed TO United
States Ambassador Walter II Page |
at London, with instructions to hand |
II to the British foreign Office for
TRANSMISSION TO the Vatican
Arrangements were made whereby |
the text should become public stimuli.
taneonsly in Washington, London, |
Paris and Rome.
Washington was rife with rumors
turnout the day that the note had
been dispatched Yesterday Score.
tary Lansing candidly denied the note
had gone. This morning he eyaded
the question, giving rise to the rn-
mors. 1t was not until after the cab
met meeting this afternoon that Mr..
Lansing, emerging, made official an.
nouncement.
II was learned the President had :
read the text Of his reply to his adj
yisers. They all heartily concurred
in his sentiments.
The cabinet members displayed
broad smiles before returning to their
respective departments
The Presidents reply to Pope Bene.
dict was written with two objects in
view:
], To make ii clear to the people
OF the United States what they are
fighting for; further to crystallze pub
lie sentiment to the knowledge that :
this is our own war as much as Eng.
lands or Frances or ltaly's, that the
United States nor any other nation
0" The face of the earth, can feel Sc.
curity, or be safe, while an irresnon.
sible government with tenth century Il
doctrines that might makes right. and p
twentieth century science to impose p
those doctrines, continues to exist. .
Wilson Doubts German Word. q
2. SO 10 phrase and express the y
peace beliefs Of America that there d
might be no opportunity for causing
discussion or disagreement among
he allied nations with which the
United States is making common war
against the German menace. IL
In line with these objects the Pres U
dent deyOtes special attention ia tho i