THE PAPAL NOTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1917, Page 1

THE PAPAL NOTE.

limit I’ItKSS ASSOCIATION. COPYHKJUT.j

ENEMY SITI'OIU

('AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIONJ

ROME, Aug. IS. The Vatican lias been assured that. v,rlin. Vienna and the neutrals; will ,uppor l the Pope’s ponm* inoposals. “|’he Allies maintain an attitude ol reserve. NO AMERICAN ACTION.

WASH IXOTON, Aug. 18

A Cabinet meeting discussed the ’ope’s Note. It was decided that no lotion bo token, pending an exchange if oninions with the Allies.

HERMAN PAPER’S PROTEST

TLONDON TIMES SERVICE —COrVRIGUJ'] .AMSTERDAM, Aug h. The -German and Austro-Hungarian leaders have reached a complete agreement. - The 1 ierman newspapers are mainly eonncerneil in protesting that the Pope has overlooked the economic agreement without which peace will be imnpssible.

FIRST RECOGNITION OF ITALY

LONDON, August 17

The ••Daily Telegraph's” Rome correspondent in a despatch states that tin' Papal peace Note to Italy constitutes the Vatican’s first official recognition of the Italian Government.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE

LONDON August 17

Lord Robert Cecil interviewed regarding the Pope’s Note said that the conviction was apparently becoming general that there was no short cut towards peace. While he was prepared to admit that the Holy Father was inspired by the h'ghesl and purest motives be regretted his serious omission in not mentioning the German outrages in Belgium and the submariuiugs. The Pope acted in the on parity of judge summing up both sides. Lord Cecil would not say that in the heat of the conflict both sides had not committed errors, ‘but '.the Pope’s silence on Germany’s policy of atrocities was most notable .

Replying to the suggestion that the good points of the Pope’s Note might outweigh the others, Lord Cecil said that it was difficult to say what the future would bring forth. The Allied Governments must copter . before formulating their reply. It was impossible to say whether President Wilson would he -chosen 'as the medium of reply, although President Wilson'had already made proposals on the same altniisbie lines, but America was now- warring and would not act except m acordsinoc with the Allies policy. ( ' The Pope’s Note would have a good effect if it .induced Germany who had been boasting a victorious war map, to come out and state definitely her aims. However. Lord (Veal was ol opinion that we would have to win before- we. would got peace. He did not. know, whether tlu;. Allied Governments actually intended to ,-eplv to the Pope. No consultations had yet ben held.

REPLY to criticism. ROME, (August 18. The “Corriere d’Ttaba” in a semiofficial rejoinder to the criticism of the Pope’s Note, says that it is purposely couched in language leaving a margin for additions and details. Tt asserts that the reference of liberty of tv*. , vns j„ couched exactly in President Wilson’s words Though Serbia, Roumania arc not mentioned they come under the restitution ’ principle.