Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-18
Woodrow Wilson
AS | Know Him
Letter TO the POne
BY JOSEPH p. TUMULTY

I'LL OuSIl AI4o oCCIS VI oIcLCJ az
lressed the following reply to tn
,ope:
To His Holiness, Benedictus
XIV, Pope:
In Acknowledgement OF the
communication of your holiness
to the belligerent peoples, dated
August 1, 1917, the president Of
the United States requests me to
transmit the following reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this ter
rible war must be touched by
this moving appeal of his holt
ness the pope, must feel the dig
nifty and force of the 49, ne
and generous motives which
prompted it, and must ferveptly
wish that we might take the
path of peace he so persuasively
points out. But it would be folly
to take it if it does not in fact
lead to the goal he proposes. Our
response must be based upon the
stern facts and upon nothing
else. 1t is not Il mere cessation
of arms he desires; it is a stable
and enduring peuce. This agen-
cy must not be gone through
with az lin, and it must be a
matter of very sober judgment
that will insure US againstit
His holiness in substance pro-
! poses that we return to the
status quo ante-Dellum, and that
then there be a general condo
nation, disarmament and con-
cert Of nations based upon an
acceptance of the principle OF ar
bitration; that by a similar con-
cert freedom of the seas be es-
tablished and that the territorial
claims of France and, Italy, the
perplexing problem of the Bal
kan states, and the restitution OF
Poland be left TO such concilia-
tory adjustments as may be pos
sible in the new temper Of such
a peace, due regard being paid
to the aspirations of the peoples
whose political fortunes and af-
filiations will be involved.
1t is manifest that no part of
this program can be carried out
successfully unless the restitu-
ton of the status quo ante-bel-
lum furnishes a firm and salts
factory basis for it. The object
of this war is to deliver the free
peoples of the world from the
menace and the actual power OF
q vast military establishment
controlled by an irresponsible
government which, having Sc
cretly planned to- carry the pan
out without regard either to the
sacred obligations of treaty or
the long established practices
and long-cherished principles OF
international acton and ,honor'
which chose it's own time for the
war: delivered its blow fierceIy
and suddenly; stopped at no bar
rier either of law or of mercy;
swent q whole continent within
the tide of blood--not the blooo
of soldiers only, but the blood
Of innocent women and children
also and of the helpless poor:
and now stands baked but not
defeated, the enemy OF FOUR
fifths of tho wrold. This power
is not the German people. II IS
the ruthless MASTER OF the Ger.
man people. 1t is no business OIL
ours how that great people came
under it's contro. or submitted
with temporary zest to the doml-
nation of it's purpose: but Il Is
our business to see to 1t tnat the
history of the rest OF the Woflu
is no longer left to it's handing:
To deal with such "a power by
way of peace UPON the plan pre-
posed by his Holiness the pope
would, so far as we can see. IN
yolye a recuperation OF It's
strength and q renewal or It's
nolicv would make it necessary
to create a permanent hoStlle
combination of nations against
the German people who are It's
Instruments; and would result III
abandoning the newborn. Russ!a
to intrigue, the manifold suplie
interference and the certain
counter revolution which WCulo
be attempted by all the mallsn
influences to (Which the Gel IllaE
government has of late accus'
TONED the world, Can peace be
based uDon q restitution OF It's
mower or upon any word OF non
or it could pledge in treaty VI
settlement and accomlnooa 'ioli
bosses of United States
Responsible statesmen mus
now everywhere see, IL thes
never saw before, that no peact
can rest securely upon polltaca
on. economic restrictions mean
to benefit some nations ana GRIP
nile or embarrass others, upon
yindictive action of any SORT OF
any kind of revenge or deAp
crate injury. The American
neople have suffered intolerabl'
wrongs at the hands OF the I'M
perial German government, pu
they desire no reprisal upon th'
German people who have them
selves suffered all things IN TINS
war which they did not choose
They believe that peace shoul(
rest upon the rights of peoples
not the rights of governments
the rights of peoples great Oh
small, weak or powerful-theil
equal right to freedom and sc
curity and self-government ant
to participation upon fal,
terms in the economic opportuni
ties of the world-the German
people, of course, included
they will accept equality and no
seek domination.
The test, therefore, Of ever!
plan of peace is this: Is it baseC
upon the faith of all the people
involved or merely upon tn
word of, an ambitious and In
triguing government on the on
hand and of a group of free pee
pies on the other? This is ties
which goes to the root OF tn
matter; and it is the test whicl
must be applied.
Of Knit q