The Washington times., 1917-05-01
VATICAN SEES U. S.
IN THE PEACE MOVE
Roman Catholic Weekly Calls 1t
Blow to Prussian Militarism.


LONDON, May 1.-The Roman
Catholic Weekly Tablet publishes a
dispatch from Rome which, after de-
scribing the sensation created by the
entrance Of the United States in the
war, says:
perhaps It would not be going too
far to say that American interven-
tion In the conflict caused a greater
sensation at the Vatican than any
thing that has happened in the war,
for generally speaking, II was not
expected. The Atlantic Ocean Is very
wide. The Holy See has no diplomatic
representative in the United States
to explain the growth Of the deter
mination in the mind OF virtually the
entire American people to take part
in the war and the solidity and vigor
OF that determination when arrived
at, as these are not easy matters for
the Roman mind to grasp: whereas
in the case of the Italians the per-
ception was quickened by the desire Of
spotting every fact and tendency lead
ing to intervention.
Looked to America.
At the Vatican the trend of thought
had been right from the beginning
Of the war until today exactly in the
opposite direction. America had been
looked upon as q prominent neutral
nation on whose efforts toward peace
the Holy Father hoped to count some
day and to which all the moral in
huence OF the Holy See would be d.
rected.
Moreover. had not President Wilson
only as short a time ago as last
Christmas sent out a great peace mes
sage? No wonder, then, that In the
first flush Of the news Of the ac-
complished fact the Osservatore
Romano, over an absolutely unof-
fcial signature, expressed rather sar-
castle surprise that the author OF the
appeal for peace had suddenly
changed his appeal to one for war.
But that must certainly have been
" :itten before there had been time
for q careful study OF the historic
OF the American Pres
Ident and the evidence now at hand
of the feeling throughout the United
States
Whereas at first sight It might
seem that instead of being able to
count on the services OF the great ma
tion in the cause OF peace, the Holy
Father, now saw more millions of his
children engaged In a fratricidal
struggle and peace proportionately
farther off, the second thought and
careful reading OF the Presidents mes
sage have given rise to a very diff
ferent view in Vatican circles
What Is Desired ut the Vatican
There has been summed up thus
by a Roman prelate with long inter
national experience:
Peace as soon as Gods wise provi-
dence may allow II, and, when 1t does
come, a just and lasting peace-that
Is what the Holy Father desires, as
all know, for he has told us so. An
other fact which may be stated with
almost equal certainty Is that his
holiness has realized for a long time
the absolute determination of the al
lies that the destruction of the cursed
thing which Is the system OF Prus-
sian militarism is necessary for the
OF true and lasting peace.
and certain proof OF the cursedness
of that thing accumulates daily in the
history Of the allied advance and pho
tographs of rescued territory in north
ern France.
Another certain thing is that the
allies are moving toward the victory
which is to result in true and last
ing peace. VIII the Intervention Of
the United States contribute material
results, and, more particularly, Will
the incalculable moral effect OF the
intervention hasten or retard peace?
nd
thoughts undoubtedly answer the for
mer, for, whereas with the United
States in any guise of peace arbitra-
tor there would necessarily have re-
suited a struggle between the allies
lust purpose and the Prussian mill
tarist diplomatic lies and promises,
guaranteed by scraps of paper.
Means just End.
The ranging OF America definitely
and actively on the side OF the right
means in addition the Fastening of a
lust end Of the war-that real world
settlement is possible. 1t may be
that the Roman prelate recognized the
fact that American counsels may tend
toward moderation and clemency,
but they will not fall below the level
of Justice. The great point is that
the world league to insure justice and
to guard the peace of the world in
future, is now formed finally. he
pointed out that all here cOnversant
with the Holy Fathers utterances on
the war from the very beginning find
u similarity between what he has said
anI what President Wilson has said
in his peace message, and though 1t
might seem anomalous il is found to
be a fact that there is an agreement
between what his holiness hopes OF
the world after this war and the
hopes as exp, essed py the President
of the United states in his war mes
sage.
Further, is there not a symptom al
ready at hand showing the result or
the expressed determination OF the
American people in the Prussian au-
tocrat prating of democracy?