New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19


.,oss relation between the Austrian gov
,ort and the Vatican is well known.
-. position taken by the German party
.tths Centre. which is the Roman Catholic
,orty in the Rechstag on the matter OF
oesce and the declarations of Erzberger at
,Ls time of the Reichstag crisis were all
,rubolie of the views held both in Rome
and Vienna and in South Germany, where
Il. influence of the Roman Catholic ele-
nent is supreme.
II has been clear from the beginning
If the war that the Pope was eager to
intervene at any moment at which it was
nossjbls and by his mediation to end
struggle devastating the world, and par
ticularly the Roman Catholic world. 1t
would be inaccurate to say that the present
Papal gesture was a mere response of
the Vatican to the Austrian sentiment;
lut. on the other hand, it is quite clear
that had Austria Hungary still been de-
isrmined to continue the war the present
time would not have been selected by the
rope as advantageous for his intervention.
Necessities of transmission Of copy of
this article compel me to comment in ad-
vance of the receipt of the official utter
snce Of the Pope. Such comment as is
rade here is therefore based upon the pre-
Huinsry forecast of that document.
World WEAKNESS Insures Hearing
b the discussion of a peace gesture by
k Pope it is essential at the outset to
eognize that, unlike all other peace pro-
nwals. this arrives at a moment when
he world WEAKNESS of the war insures
hat at least it shall have serious hear
hg. Outside of Germany there remains
70 considerable war party in the world.
'ht tOhtlVilillS uSSllS VI Cilo idIiOho INV
lighting Germany is comprehended in a
wish to attain a peace that shall be per-
nanent, and they are animated by con-
yicton that while Germany remains in
possession of conquered territory and af-
firms determination to profit by the war
and by the methods she has employed no
peace can be more than truce and an
Illusion
We AUST recognize that in the course
the war there has been an expansion
nd a contraction of Allied purposes, nee
azarily Incidental to the extension of
Allied numbers and to the modification
Of purposes by some of the Allies.
Going back. TO the outset of the war, we
can recall that it was precipitated by
an Austrian assault on the integrity and
Independence of Serbia. Russia entered
the war to defend Serbia. France nee
'ssarily as an ally of Russia was involved
"a the struggle. The first action of Ger
many in the wsr-the invasion of Bel
gnm-drew Great Britain into the con-
het.
At the outset Of the war the issues,
serefore, were twofold-the defence of
me integrity and independence of Serbia
and the restoration Of the independence
Of Belgium.
Between France and Germany at the
.1'set OF the present war there subsisted
re old dispute due to the .forcible annexa-
sOn by Germany Of Alsace-Lorraine in
'o,l against the unanimous protest of
a'nl'n and half people--the inhabitants
u these proyinces-who desired to remain
Hench. Naturally the French, attacked
sssih by Germany, believed and believe
nAt the old wrong should be righted and
vat Alsace-Lorraine should be restored to
Trance.
~ me same sense, when Italy entered
's war the old question of Trieste and
Hs Irsntino, regions inhabited by Italians
W excluded from Italian frontiers half
injury ago when Italy was made, was
lsised.
New Serbian Goal
L. = is0s Austria had annexed Bosnia and
,.''1sgoSins, districts inhabited by Ser
an and included in the aspirations Of
- serbian race for unity. Early in the
!" me unifeation Of the Serb race thus
Nth. Allies.
me war progressed and Rumania
10, The question Of Trsnsylvanis and
ss'ons OF Hungary inhabited by Ru-
t's came equally 20 the fore, and II
~. portion Of the Allied programme
as's the uni6cation Of the Rumsnian