New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-18
mo Conformation Until
Criminals Repent"
He Asserts
Pope's Peace Note
Premature, He Says
Cabinet Minister Believes
Time Is Not Ripe for
Mediation

LONDON, Aug. II. 49, What may be
construed as Great Britain's prelimin-
airy reply to the Pope's peace proposals
was made to-day by Lord Robert Cecil
who declared "The war must be fought
out" adding thoughtfully: "No-after
the receipt of the Pope's proposals |
am more than ever convinced that
there is no short road to peace"
Lord Robert told The Associated
Press tonight that the Allied govern
ments would discuss jointly the peace
proposals of Pope Benedict, and reply
would be issued in due course. Wheth-
er the reply will be joint note or. as
suggested in some quarters, through
the medium of the United States, or by
some other manner, will be decided
later.
When the correspondent entered the
Office of the Minister Of Blockade he
was seated at desk, with package
of documents dealing with the fate OF
the crew of, the steamer Belgian Prince
before him, while another packet lying
near told the story Of the American
steamer Csmpans, sunk on August s.
From it the captain and several gun
ners were removed by the crew of the
submarine, whether as captive or to
suffer fate similar to that Of the crew
of the Belgian Prince is not yet known.
Talk Of . Condition
at is difficult to talx Of 'condi-
tion'," remarked Lord Robert in re-
sponse to a question concerning the
Papal note, while reading stories like
these. / hope sincerely the brave
! Americans taken from the Campana
have not suffered the fate which the
pirates meted out TO our men aboard
the Belgian Prince. II takes us back TO
the awful days when oldtime pirates
by way of reprisal made sailors walk
the plank to certain death in the sea"
Turning to the note from the Vati.
can, Lord Robert, after prefacing his
remarks with the statement that in
asmuch as the matter is not a subject
for discussion by the Allied govern.
ments he could express only his own
personal views, said:
premature attempts at mediation
are not usually successful, and | fear
this is premature. I think we all rec
ognize that the Pope's motives are the
best in the world and that ne desires
peace srdently, as indeed we all do.
But the time is not yet ripe.
"The Allies cannot think of condona-
tion until the criminals are really
repentant and have shown it by word
and deed.
CriticiIes the Pope
I'm writing this note the Pope OBJ
viously felt the importance Of not TAX
ing sides and OF maintaining an sbso-
lutely impartial attitude. Yet | cannot
help feeling surprise and sorrow that
the note says nothing Of certain out
standing outrages committed in this
war which have done more than all else
to make it impossible for Germany's
enemies to trust her or to treat with
her.
IAN attitude Of impartislity need not
have prevented the Pope from pointing
out and deprecating these outrages.
Impartiality should mean justice. In
arbitration between a wolf and a lamb
the judges are not precluded from de-
nouncing the devilish tactics of Mr..
Wolf. The subjects should have liked
TO have seen mentioned by the Pope
are the invasion of Belgium, the ruth
less submarine warfare and the Armc-
nian massscres."
Arthur Balfour is expected to speak
before the House of Commons next
Monday on the issues raised by Rome.
Views of French Press
Judging from French papers re-
ceived here the views of Paris are very
much the same as those expressed in
London. II is pointed out that the
peace offer was made at the moment
when the Teutonic successes on the
Eastern front tend to solidify the
Kaiser's dream of "Mttel-Europa."
II is also held that under the Pope's
plan Germany would be allowed to
profit from the spoils of her invasion
of Belgium and France while the latter
countries would be left to recover as
best they might. The Pope's sincerity
is admitted. but it is held that only a
decisive result in this war can prevent
a greater estaclysm in the near fut-
ure.
Without entering into discussion OF
the terms the Pope suggested. Lord
Cecil, interviewed for The Trib-
une, declared that he felt the
greatest surprise and disappointment
that the note failed to mention atroci.
ties, such as Louvain, the Lusitsnla, the
Belgian Prince, the Armenian massa-
ores. and so on.
81 appreciate perfectly the necessity
Of the Pope being absolutely impair