Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-22


( opened to them.
Tho reply. received hero in a dis
patch from Vienna. was handed to
Monsignor T. valfre di Bonzo the papal
nuncio, at Vienna, on Thursday.
The Austrian Emperor admits tina,
the future arrangement Of the world
must be based on tho elimination OF
armed force and On the rulo Of inter-
national Justice and legality.
Austria is prepared, tho reply states.
to enter into negotiations for the sub
i mission OF international disputes to
compulsory arbitration.
Tho Pope's idea Of negotiations be-
tween the belligerents for an under
standing for simultaneous and recipro.
cal reduction of arinaments on land and
sea and in the air, by whic.. tho high
seas which rightfully belong to all
nations. will be opened equally to the
use of all. Is supported by Emperor
Charles.
EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA MOVED
WITH DEEP EMOTION
The reply says:
"Hol;' Father.--With due veneration
and deep emotion. we take cognizance
Of the new representations Your Holi-
ness. In fulfllment of the holy Office
intrusted to you by God, make to US
and the heads of the other belligerent
states with the noble intention Of
leading the heavily tried nations to q
unity that will restore peace to them.
with thankful heart we received
this fresh gift of fatherly care which
you, holy father, always bestow on
all peoples without distinction.
Soon after our accession to the throne
it was vouchsafed to US. in common
with our allies. to undertake a step
which had been considered and pre-
pared by our exalted predecessor.
Francis Joseph. to pave the way for
Il lasting and honorable peace.
1--WE gave expression TO this desire
in a speech from the throne delivered
at tho opening of the Austrian Rich
rath. thereby showing that we are
striving after a peace that shall FREQ
tho future life OF the nation from
rancor and thirst for revenge and
that shall secure for them for genera
tions to come from the employment
of armed forces.
:, Happy Is the thought that our de-
sjres from the first were directed to-
ward the same object which Your
Holiness to-day characterizes as one
we should strive for. We have taken
into close consideration the concrete
and practical suggestions OF Your
Holiness, and have come to the fol-
lowing conclusions:
with deep-rooted conviction we
agree to the leading idea OF Your
Holiness that the future arrangement
OF the world must be based on the
elimination of armed forces. and on
the moral force OF right and on the
rule Of international justice and le-
gaiity.
SEAS TO BE OPENED
EQUALLY FOR Use OF ALL
1--WE, TOO, are in,bued with the hope
that a strengthening OF the sense OIL
right would morally reGenerate hu
mauity. We support, therefore. your
Holiness's view that the negotiations
between the belligerents should ana
could LEAD to an understano'hs os
which, with the creation OF appropriate
guarantees, ornaments on land and sea
and in the air might be reduced sinful
taneously, rcciprocally and gradually
TO fxed limit, and whereby the high
seas, which rightly belong 10 all the
nations Of .he earth may be freed from
domination or paramountcy. and be
Fully conscious Of the Importance Of
the promotion OF pe:ce on the method
proposed by Your Holiness; namely. TO
submit international disputes to COM
pulsory arbitration, are also prepared
to enter into negotiations regarding
this proposal.
IF, as We most heartily desire.
agreements should be arrived at be-
tween the belliSercnts which would
realize this sublime idea. and thereby
give security to the Austro- Hungary
monarchy for it's unhampered future
development. 1t can then not 3e diff
cult to find satisfactory solution OF
the other questions which still remain
to he settled between the be!ligcrents
: in a spirit of justice and II rea-
sonable consideration of the conditions
for exjstencf OF both parties.
IL tire nations of the earth were to
enter. with q desire for peace, !n,o ne
gotiations with enc another In the
sense OF Your lioliness's proposals. then
peace could blossom forth from the NJ.
The nations could attain complete
freedom o: movement on the high seas.
heavy material burde ms could be taken
from them, and new sources of pros
perity opened TO them.
Guided by spirit Of moderation
and Cancellation, we see in the propo-
sails OF Your Holiness a suitable basis
for initiating negotiations with a view
to preparing peace just TO all and
lasting. and we earnestly hone our
present enemies may be animated by
tho same Ideas. n this spirit we beg
that the Almighty may bless the work
OF peace begun by Your Holiness"
BERNST0RFF ASKS