Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-08-15

cease a suicidal war Such condi tions, the pope feels, amply justify him in taking the present opportunity to suggest what may be, he hopes, at least a foundation upon which peace negotiations may be initiated
 At best, Pope Benedict's proposals are only suggested as a rough basis for such negotiations, and he real izes that the details in all their com plexity must be worked out patienllY and in a spirit of cancellation by the belligcrents themselves.
 Wilson's Plan Approved.
 Unqualified approval of President Wilson's plan for the avoidance Of future wars by some form of inter- national organization which shall have behind it the necessary power to enforce it's judgments is given by the pope who declares that along with such a splendid project must go an effective arrangement for reduc t1On of ornaments to point just sufficient for defense purposes or to carry out the mandates of the world court.
 u Jo lHC pOpC llOluS, that any permanent peace can be maintained unless the various peoples are willing to gather in an amity founded upon a recognition of national rights.
 Any attempts to prevent free eco homie action between belligerents, the pope points out, would be disas- trous; therefore, he says, there must be freedom of the Seas in all that the terms implies. The pontiff de- clares that so extensive has been the injury to all belligerents that there can be no thought of indemnity or reparation.
 In spirit of conciliation and jus tice he says, all the belligerents must submit to accept the losses they have sustained except in the matter of territory, and besides the questions of indemnity and adequate repar- alton. the pope declares that thede must be no continuation of the war by an economic struggle for suprem- acy thereafter, which would be pure ly evil.
 This refers directly to the so-called l followed by on ein Vienna. where the effort was made to bind the belliser- ents on either side after the war to have practically no commercial rela- tions with their late enemies.
 Disposition of Territory.
 On the important question of the of occupied territory and the territorial ambitions of the hcllig erents, the pope, by way of preface. admits that special conditions might justify special consideration and still be adjusted in conformity with the principles of equity and justice. i'nt, as a general proposition, he feels hat a proper basis for discussion would be the restoration at once If all ter ritory now in enemy occupation. TEa' would involve liberation Of Bel%:Um. leaving not trace of German control, political or military. The same prin' ciple of unencumbered freedom in its full sense, he says, must prevail in regard to every power and nation. Not only must such territory now occupied by Germany be restored, tH France, he says, but on the othc1 hand, all German colonies which have been occupied by England, PortuEa', Belgium and Japan should De ro turned to Germany.
 The more difficult question oi lyal- ia irredentia the pope thinks, sEnuld be examined in a spirit of conciiati"n and fairness and that special con sideration in the settlement sNul! be given to national aspirations.
 Likewise does the pope hold flat the complex questions involved 'n rea!djustment of the Balkan states should be considered in the same spir- it of equity and justice. He has oSpe- cially in mind Armenia, the Balk 'ns and Poland, and the intimation con veyed is that the questions can safely be dealt with by direct diplomatic exchanges between the belligerents once an agreement is reached upon the general principles of recognition of national aspirations and justice.