The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-17
Message Comes to the United
States Through King George
as Intermediary.
IMPLoREs DIVINE COUNSEL
Pontiff Urges Boundaries as Before the
War and Disarmament as Primary
Basis-Liberty of Seas to Be
Assured and Territory Must
Be Restored.

copy Of his appeal to the heads of the
belligerent peoples.
Text of Appeal Made by Pope.
Th pope's appeal follows:
ITO the leaders Of the belligerent
peoples:
"Since the beginning Of our pontifi-
cate, with the horrors Of terrible war
let loose on Europe, we have In view
above everything three things to pre-
| serve:
Perfect impartiality toward all bel
ligerents as is suitable for him who is
the Common Father and who loves all
his children with equal affection.
Through the voice even of human
ity and Of reason we once more emit
the cry Of peace and we renew q press
Ing appeal to those who hold in their
hands the destinies of nations.
Basis for Durable Peace Suggested.
"But in order no longer to speak In
general terms as the circumstances
had counseled us in the past, we now
wish to make more concrete and prac-
t1cal proposals and to invite the gov
ernments of the belligerent peoples to
come to an agreement upon the follow
ing points which seem to be basis Of
a just and durable peace, leaving to
them the task of ..nalyzing and COM
pleting them.
First of all, the fundamental points
must be that the material force of
arms be substituted by the moral force
of right from which shall arise a fair
agreement by all for the simultaneous
and reciprocal diminution Of arma-
ments according to the rules and guar
antees to be established, in meas
ure necessary and sufficient for the
maintenance Of public order in each
state
"Then in the substitution for armies
the institution of arbitration, with it's
high pacifying function, according to
, the rules to be laid down and the pen
alties to be imposed on state which
would refuse either to submit q ma
tional question to arbitration or to ac-
cept its decision.
"Once the supremacy of right has
thus been established. all obstacles to
the means of communication of the
peoples would disappear by assuring,
by rules to be fixed later the true lib
erty and community of the seas which
would contribute to the numerous
causes of conflict and would also open
to all new sources Of prosperity and
progress.
GAS to the damages to be repaired
and as to the war expenses we see no
other means of solving the question
than by submitting as a general prin-
ciple the complete and reciprocal con-
donation which would be justified
moreover by the immense benefit to
be derived from disarmament, SO much
so that no one will understand the
continuation of similar carnage sole
ly for reasons of an economic order.
Territory Taken Must Be Restored.
IF for certain cases there exist par
ticular reasons why they would be
/ deliberated upon with justice and
equity, but these pacific agreements,
| with the immense advantage to be de-
rived from them, are not possible with
out a reciprocal restitution Of the
territory at present occupied.
consequently, on the part of Ger
many the complete evacuation Of Bel
GUM with the guarantee of her full
political, military and economic inde-
, pendence toward it.
''The evacuation of French territory
On the part of other belligerent par
ties similar restitution of the German
colonies.
GAS regards the territorial questions,
as, for example, those which have
arisen between Italy and Austria and
between Germany and France, there is
reason to hope that in consideration of
the immense advantages Of durable
peace with disarmament, the parties
In conflict would wish to examine them
with a conciliatory disposition, taking
into consideration, as we have said
formerly, the aspirations Of the peo-
, pies and the special interests and Of
the general welfare of the great hu-
man society.
Poland to Be Given Consideration.
s'The same spirit of equity and Just
Ice ought TO De 1OlIOWoQ III the exam
nation Of other territorial and politi-
cal questions, notably those relative
to Armenia and the Balkan states and
territories making part of the an
cient kingdom of Poland, whose noble
and historical traditions and the suf-
ferings which 1t has endured, espe-
cially during the present war, ought
to conciliate the sympathies of ma
tiOns.
"Such are the principal bases where
on we believe the future reorganiza-
ton of the peoples ought to be built
therefore, in presenting them to
YOU, who direct at this hour the des-
tines of the belligerent nations, we
are animated to see thus the conclu-
sion at an early date Of the terrible
struggle which more and more appears
useless massacre.
(Signed) "BENEDlOT.
"At the Vatican. August i ....