New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-17


restoration of Belgium. If there is any
obligation in this world sacred, if every
international covenant is not scrap OF
paper" then France, Russia and England
are bound to-day, as they were bound then
to obtain for Belgium not merely that lib
GRAFTON which the Pope's proposal assures
not merely that independence which would
be but a pitiful thing on the proposed
terms, but that restoration which would
demonstrate that those who defend princi-
pie, however weak, will not be forsaken
that those who suffer in the cause of lib
erty will not ultimately be left amidst red
ruin to rebuild their country and their
homes.
The answer of the Allied nations TO the
Pope must be "Noi" And the answer of
the United States must be mo" Mr..
Wilson has told the world that the United
States is fighting to make the world safe
for democracy. Will the world be safe for
democracy when it has been established
that a great autocracy can do to a small
state what Germany did to Belgium and
in the end, when the ultimate booty that
she sought has escaped her, retire, leaving
a desert behind her and make no recon-
pense?
There is no need to discuss the other
questions raised by the Papal document.
There is no need to discuss international
disarmament, because all these things were
discussed long before the war, and it was
German opposition which silenced the dis
cussion. 1t is of no use to talk about per-
manent arbitration in the world while the
people who declined to arbitrate the Ser
bian question remain in control of the Ger
man armies and German policy. 1t is of
no use to talk of restoring international
amity when those who made the constitu-
ton of international amity a "scrap of
paper" remain still clothed with power to
destroy each new agreement as they de-
stroyed the old.
There is no peace by surrender, and the
Papal document would mean a surrender
of that vital and essential principle which
underlies all that the Allies have been
fighting for; all that the United States has
entered the war to fight for. If Belgium is
to be forsaken by the civilized world now
then the civilized world will deserve that
fate which it will ultimately meet at Ger
many's hand. If Belgium is permitted to
die then those who permit this to happen
will merit the death which the German
purpose had in store for them in 1914, and
will still have in store for them hereafter.
The way to peace is clear. Peace must
begin with the agreement of Germany not
to evacuate Belgium merely; not to restore
a titular and illusory independence; but to
restore all that has been taken from Bel
gium by Germany that can be restored, to
rebuild the ruined cities, to replace the
stolen machinery, to restock her plundered
homes. Until Germany agrees to this the
world must fight Germany, because Bel
GUM is the symbol of all that is just, that
is right, in the Allied cause.
All eyes will now be turned toward
Washington. The world will now wait
earnestly and hopefully to hear from Mr..
Wilson another statement like that ad-
dressed to the Senate which preceded but
determined the American entrance into the
war. Not in anger and not in bitterness
must the United States and all other ma
tons reject the proposal of the Pope. No
one will misunderstood the reasons that
have moved him to utter a document de-
signed honestly to end universal agony,
but nevertheless as things are in this sad
world calculated to establish principles de-
structive alike of our civilization and our
Christianity. In confidence and in hope
the people of the United States will now
wait for their Chief Magistrate TO make
that answer which must be decisive, the
answer which can only be "No!"
Essence of New York