POPE'S PEACE PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 7

POPE'S PEACE PROPOSALS

ARBITRATION AND REDUCED ARMAMENTS

RECIPROCAL RESTITUTION AND MUTUAL

LIQUIDATION

(AtWTIULUN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND HEOTER;)

LONDON, 16th August. The text of the Papal Note which has been addressed to the heads of the belligerent peoples has been published. It is prefaced by the statement that it has been his Holiness's aim since his accession to observe absolute neutrality and concurrently to do everything in his power to hasten the end of the war. It states that he has not ceased during these three painful years to exhort the belligerent peoples and Governments to resume fraternal relationship, although everything that he had done to attain that object had been without publicity. His Holiness refers to the unsuccessful result of the previous Papal Peace Note, since when the war had become more cruel, extending over land and sea, and even into the air. Defenceless cities, quiet villages, innocent inhabitants, have been stricken with desolation and death. The Note envisages the multiplied and aggravated sufferings which will ensue if Hip war continues--perhaps for years—and queries : '"Must the world become a field of deal!), nnd Europe speed to the abyss of her own suicide?" Therefore, the sense of his supremo duty as the Father of the Faithful, and also the solicitations of his children imploring his intervention,, as well as the voice of humanity: and reason, impel him to renew his pressing appeals?

peace, but in order not to confine himself longer to general terms, as he had done previously, he now submits more concrete and practical proposals. He invites the belligerent Governments to deliberate on the following points, which seem to form the basis of a fair and lasting peace :— The primary fundamental point ought to be the substitution, for the material force of arms, the moral forces oE right, from which would follow :— An agreement for the simultaneous reciprocal reduction of armaments, according to rules and guarantees, to a degree only necessary for the maintenance of public order in each State. Then : The establishment of arbitration, providing for concerted action and penalties against the State refusing to submit international questions thereto, or to accept its decisions. The Note proceeds to express the view that once the supremacy of right has thus been established, rules could be fixed assuring real liberty and freedom of the seas, thus eliminating numerous causes of dispute, and opening to all new sources of prosperity and progress. His Holiness does not see any other means of solving the question of reparation and payment for war costs than complete mutual liquidation as a general principle, and refers in this connection to the immense benefits to be derived from disarmament. Besides, he points out, it is incomprehensible that this carnage should continue, for economic reasons.

Peaceful agreements will be impossible without the reciprocal restitution of the occupied territories. Consequently, Germany should evacuate Belgium, guaranteeing her unhampered independence, and also the French territo/y. The other group of belligerents would restore the German colonies. In regard to the territorial questions as such, Italy, Austria, and Germany and France have expressed the opinion that the nations should examine the matter in a conciliatory spirit, taking into consideration the aspirations of the peoples concerned as far as possible, and subordinating special interest for tlie general good of human society. The same spirit of equity and justice should animate the examination of other territorial and political questions, particularly relating to Armenia and the Balkan States, and the territories comprising the old kingdom of Poland. The noble and historic traditions and long sufferings of-the latter especially in the present war, should arouse the sympathies of the nations. The Note believes that the acceptance of the foregoing leading points would prevent a recurrence of quarrels, and prepare for a solution of the economic question. It concludes with an earnest and prayerful appeal to the nations to turn a favourable ear to the communication.

Cardinal Gasparri, in a covering letter to the Note, asks the King to convey copies to the Presidents of France and the United States, and the King of Italy, this step being necessary in consequence of the absence of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and those countries.