The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-15

H American OII1CldlS 'chHoWleuSe that the vatican's proffer is of nature calling for a reply. Diplomats of the entente circles voice nothing but 4 unanimous opinion that 1t will he rejected American officials realize that convincing reply is required for the worlds page of history. That the proposals cannot be accepted as thev stand is certain. That they will not be accepted at all is probable.
 An unofficial outline of the pope's communication was received here to- day Members of the Presidents cabi- net said 1t had not been discussed at this afternoons meeting, but some of the Presidents official family gave signs of the difficulty which it has presented. Tonight the official text had not been received and it had not been established whether it would come through the Spanish ambassador or the Swiss minister. Spain and Switzerland are the only two European neutrals having relations with the vatican. WORKING THROUGH AUSTRIA lf The first appraisal of the proposal
  was another attempt by Germany, this time working through Austria because of the latter's close relation to the vat ican, to accomplish what she failed i'll 7 her first offer of peace-the as sembling of peace delegates at a round table conference. where the interests of one ally could be played off against the other with the disruption of the grand alliance as the stake. In no quarter is there any disposition to question in any way the good faith of the vatican, although the peace activi- ties of the Roman Catholic elements in Germany and Austria have been prom inent for several months
 But. as the unofficial outline dis closed the terms of Pope Benedicts proposal. officials were astonished to realize it's similarity with some ot President Wilson's declarations on the subject. International agreement to enforce peace, reduction of armamen, and recognition of the national as- pirations of the small peoples, all were brought forward by the President in his epochal addresses before Con- sress
 WOULD EMBARRASS WILSON
 Although the proposal to leave for diplomatic discussion such great ques- tions as Italia Irridentia.a free Poland and Alsace Lorraine might be rejected on many grounds, close observers rore- see the possibility of endorsements in declining to discuss proposals which the President himself brough'. before the world. The allied states : men realize that once consideration of any part of the popes proposals be- gins pacifists and socialist elements are at once enapied to take up dis cussions which will er -ss thely governments.
 President Wilson's own view of what reply shall be mad obviously cannot accurately be assess at the present time. His latest publr nouncements on the most vital the proposals Pope Benedict makes are interesting.
 When the new Russian 2 ,vernment was wavering on the point of making separate peace and dec4 na sar np anasxations and no ideWfities President in message tN the NuSS4a people declared
 MESSAGE TO R. StA
 "Of course, the imperia saaa gov ernment and those whom sa rs,nS fnt their own undoing are sslns 10 oe tain pledges that the W. sii end '. the restoration of the stataa aae apte, It was the status quo ane aat nf w.h this iniquitous war iss eA feFtls taal power of the imperial German n- k uent within the empire Are sts Niag- spread domination and f iasaee eissNia .