The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-11

Following is the Peace Appeal is
sued by Pope Benedict in August,
about to convene it is interesting to
note how the principles first laid down
in the valuable document are about to
be upheld. 1t also offers another rea-
son why the Pope should be repre-
sented there.
The Pope's Letter.
To the Leaders of the Belligerent
Peoples:
Since, at the beginning Of our Pom
tificate, the horrors of terrible war
were let loose on Europe, we have had
in view above everything three things
to preserve: Perfect impartiality
towards all belligerents as is suitable
for him who is the common Father
and who loves all his children with
equal affection; continually to attempt
to do all the good possible and that
without exception Of person, without
distinction of nationality or religion,
as is dictated to us by the universal
law of charity which the supreme
spiritual charge has confded to us
with Christ; finally, as our pacific mis-
sion also requires US, to omit nothing
so long as it was in our power, which
might contribute to hasten the end of
this calamity by trying to lead people
and their leaders to more moderate
resolution to hasten a serene delibera-
ton OF Il peace just and durable.
Whoever has followed our work dur
ing these three painful years which
have just passed has been easily able
to recognize that. if we had always
remained faithful to our resolve of
absolute impartiality and our attitude
of benevolence, We have not ceased
to eXhort the people and the belliSer-
ent brothers again to become breth-
ren, although publicity has not been
given to all that we have done TO at
tain this very noble aim.
Toward the end of the first year OF
Tie war we addressed to the nations
in conflict most likely exhortations.
followed to arrive at a stable and
honorable peace for all. Unfortunate
ly, our appeal was not heard, and the
war continued desperately for another
two years, with all it's horrors. 1t
became even more cruel and extended
over the earth, over the sea and in
the air, and one saw desolation and
death descend upon the cities without
defense, upon peaceful villages and
on their innocent population; and now
no one can imagine how the sufferinss
OF all will be increased and aggraV waited
if other months, OF, worse still, other
years are about to be added to this
sanSuinary triennium.
Is this civilized world to be nothing
moro than field of death? And
Europe, so glorious and SO flourishing
is it going, as if stricken by a univer
sal madness, to run into the abyss and
to lend it's hand to its own suicide?
In such a terrible situation and in
the presence of a menace so serious,
we, who have no particular political
aim, who do not listen, to suggestions
or to the interests of any of the bel
ligerent parties, but are solely COM
PEELED by sentiment of our supreme
duty as the common Father of the
faithful, by the solicitation of our chill
dren who implore our Intervention
and our pacifying word, we, through
the voice even of humanity and OF
reason, once more emit the cry OF
peace and renew pressing appeal to
those who hold in their hands the
destinieS of nations.
But in order no longer to speak in
general terms, as the circumstances
had counselled us in the past, we now
wish to make concrete and practical
proposals and to invite the govern
ments of the belligerent peoples to
come to an agreement upon the fol
lowing points, which seem to be q
basis of just and durable peace, leav
ing to them the task of analyzing anG
completing them.
First of all the fundamental points
arms be substituted by the moral force
of right, from which shall arise fail
8 agreement by all for the simultaneous
and reciprocal dinunition of arma
ment, according to the rules ane
guarantees to be established, in q
measure necessary and sufficient fol
the maintenance of public order il
each state. Then in the substitution
for armies the institution of arbitra
ton, with its high pacifying function
according to the rules to be laid dowI
and the penalties to be imposed on {
state which would refuse either tt
submit d national question to arbitra
ton or to accept it's decision.
Once the supremacy of right has
thus been established, all obstacles tt
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 also open to all new sources o
prosperity and progress.
AS to the damages to be repaired
and as to the war expenses, We see NJ
other means of solving the question
than BY submitting as a general pril