The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-17
Peace talk was the one big subject
at the state department today.

| Peace talk was the one big subject
at the state department today.
Throughout the morning diplomats
| paid their respects to Mr.. Lansing.
None of them would express opin-
ion for publication. 1t was gener-
ally believed, however, that all told
Mr.. Lansing the time for peace talk Is
| inopportune.
1T is extremely unfair" said he.
ito accredit these statements to me
| I have not even discussed the matter
with the president and, of course, can
make no statement until l do
The French ambassador has an APP
pointment with the president for to-
morrow and it is expected that this
interview may lead to an authoritative
expression of the views of the United
States.
The Pope's Message.
Pope Benedct's message, which Is
approximately 1000 words long, is
devoted in its beginning to recita-
ton of the horrors of the war. and
to the efforts that the vatican has
made from time to time to restore
peace 1t is pointed out that the vati-
can has been entirely impartial. The
spread of the confiagration is pointed
out the increasing horrors and suffer
ing after which the pope asks: is
this civilized world to be nothing more
than a field of death? And Europe.
so glorious and so fourishing. is it
coming. as If stricken by a universal
madness, and lend its hand to It's own
suicide?'
Outline of Terms.
That portion Of the pope's message
In which he outlines terms follows:
The fundamentals must be that the
material force of arms be substituted
by the moral force of right, throush
which shall arise a fair agreement by
all for reciprocal dimunition of arma-
ment in accordance with established
rules and guarantees, in measure suffi
ciert for maintenance of public order
in the states. This involves, in add
ton, the substitution for armies of
the institution OF arbitration In ac-
cordance with rules to be established
and penalties to be imposed on states
which would refuse to submit ques-
tons to arbitration or accept its de-
cisjons
with the supremacy OF right thus
established. true liberty and freedom
of the seas would he assured, con-
tributing to removal of many causes
of conflict and opening all new sources
of prosperity and progress.
AS to damages and war expenses
we see no way or sowing the uues-
ton other than by submitting a gen
oral principle of complete and re-
Ciprocal conformation which would be
justified by the great benefit to he
derived from disarmament. There are
particular reasons for certain cases.
They require the liberation with jus
tice and equity, but these agreements
with the advantages to be from them
derived. are impossible without re-
ciprocsl restitution OF territory no~
occupied
AS 10 Germany. there should be
complete evacuation OF Belgium, with
Suarntees of her fun political. mill
tary and economic independence,
Also, the evacuation of French terri
tory and similar restitution OF German
colonies by the other belligerents
With regard to territorial questions
as those existing between Italy and
Austria and between Germany and
France. there Is reason to hone that.
In view Of the advantages OF a dura-
HE peace with disarmament, the par
ties would wish to examine the mat
ters with a conciliatory spirit, con-
sderirg the aspirations of the people
and the general welfare of humanity