Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-09-07
Wilson Rejects Peace Proposal
Prom The Pope.

President Wilson has informed Pope
Benedict that the Government Of the United
States cannot entertain proposals looking
to the restoration Of peace unless definitely
stated and backed by the people Of the I'm
perial German Empire and not their Gov
eminent.
The reply Of the President, speaking for
the people Of the United States. to the
appeal recently made by the Catholic Pom
tiff to the belligerent nations that the way
be paved for definite peace proposals has
been made public, simultaneously with its
presentation at the Vatican through the
British Foreign Office. The replies Of the
other bellieerent nations are believed to
have preceded to the Vatican that Of the
United States. There is no question but
that they were substantially identical in
essential substance.
The Presidents response, which is less
than 1000 words in length, undoubtedly
will be considered to measure up both in
expression and dignity to similar commu-
nications transmitted by all OF the other
Powers. excepting, of course, those of Ger
many and its allies. Little doubt is ex-
pressed that the central Empires already
have indicated their readiness to negotiate
peace terms along the lines suggested by
the head Of the Catholic Church.
The President makes it perfectly clear
in the note sent forward through the State
Department that any peace proposals
worthy Of the dignifed attention Of this
country must originate with the German
people. who have themselves suffered all
things in this war which they did not
choose" He defines the test Of every plan
of peace to be embodied in this question
is it based upon the faith of all the
peoples involved or merely on the word of
an ambitious and intriguing government
on the one hand and group Of free peo-
pie on the other?"
the root Of the matter and 1t is the test
which must be applied. He declares that the
German Government has not yet met this
test. In this unmistakable fashion he re-
fleets the estimate Of the United States
Government regarding the integrity Of any
proposal originating in that source:
I'VE cannot take the word of the pres
ent rulers Of Germany as a guarantee Of
anything that is to endure unless explicitly
supported by such conclusive evidence Of
the will and purpose Of the German people
themselves as the other peoples Of the
world would be justified in accepting. With.
out such guarantees. treaties Of settlement,
agreements for disarmament, covenants
to set up arbitration In place Of force.
territorial adjustments, reconstruction Of
small nations. il made with the German
Government. no man. no nation, could now
depend on We must await some new
evidence Of the purpose Of the great peo-
pies Of the central Powers
The desire for peace on the part OF the
people Of the United States is clearly
established at the very beginning and in
the final phrases Of the Presidents reply
" thC OothohC HOutiHs nc dSbcTtb tndt
the people Of this country and all others
must feverishly wish that we might take
the path Of peace" which the Pope so per.
suasively points out. But. he says, it
would be folly to take such path il it does
not in fact lead to the goal that His Holi-
ness proposes.
God grant 1t may be given soon," he
says, land in way to restore the conf
dence Of all peoples everywhere in the
faith Of nations and the possibilities Of
covenanted peace"
Discussing the substance Of the appeal
addressed by the Pope to the bellieerent
nations the President concisely points out
the fact that the Pope proposes return
to the status quo ante bellum, leaving
matters OF general conformation. disarma-
ment. arbitration. territorial claims OF
France and Italy. the perplexing problems
Of the Balkan States and the restitution
Of Poland for subsequent conciiatory ad-
justment.
He expresses the belief that no part Of
such program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the status quo
ante bellum Furnished firm and satisfac-
tory basis for it. The chief objection to
such suggestion, he says lies in the fact
that 1.-The object Of this war is to deliver the
free peoples Of the world from the menace
and the actual power Of a vast military
establishment controlled by an irrespon-
sible Government"