TEXT OF THE PAPAL NOTE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17064, 17 August 1917, Page 5

TEXT OF THE PAPAL NOTE.

CAus. & VN.Z. Cable Assn. & Heater.) Received August 17, 1.5 a.m.

LONDON, August 16. i The text of the Papal Note ad-' dressed to the heads of the be'lliger-! ent peoples has been published. It is prefaced with a statement that the aim of His Holiness since his accession has been to observe absolute neutrality and concurrently to do everything in his pov.er to hasten the end of the war. He states that he has not ceased during three painful years to exhort the belligerent peoples and Governments to resume fraternal relationship, although everything has been done to attain his object without publicity. His Holiness refers to the want of success of the previous Papal peace movement, since wlien the war has become more cruel, extending "on land and sea and even in the air. •Defenceless cities, quiet villages'and innocent inhabitants have been stricken by desolation and death. The" Note envisages the multiplied and aggravated sufferings if the war cons nues, perhaps for years, and Queries: Must the world become a field of death and Europe speed to the abyss of its own suicide? Therefore, the sense of his supreme duty as Father of the.faithful; aJso his solicitations lor his children, imploring intervention, as well as the voice of humanity an! reason, impel him to renew his pressing appeal tor peace, but in order not to confine himself to general terms, as previously^ -he now submits mora concrete 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 point ought to be the substitution of material force of arms by the moral forces of right whence an agreement for a simultaneous reciprocal reduction of armaments a<> iT ."/u^^ rules and guarantees. I should be decreed, retaining only suofa ;as would be necessary for the maintea ance of public order in each State men there should ba the establishment ot arbitration, providing for concerted action and penalties against any Stata refusing to submit international queitions thereto, or accept decisions. Ine Note proceeds to express the view | that once the supremacy of right is thus established, rules could be fixad assuring real liberty and freedom of the seas, thus eliminating numerous causes of dispute, aud opening to all new sources of progress. His Holiness does not see other means of solving the question of reparation and payments of war costs than complete mutual liquidation as a general principle, lie refers in this conneetioi to the immense benefits from disarmament. Besides, it is incomprehensible that the carnage can continue tor economic reasons. A peaceful agreement was impossible without the reciprocal restitution of the occupied territories. Consequently Germany Rhould evacuate Belgium, guaranteeing her unhampered independence. She should aiso evacuate French territory. Ihe other group of belligerents should restore the German colonies. T ,ln regard to the territorial question, Italy, Austria and Germany, and X ranee have expressed the opinion thac nations should conoiliatorily examine the matter, taking into consideration the people's aspirations as far as possible, and co-ordinating the special interest for the general good of human society. The same spirit of equity and justice should animate the examination of other territorial and political questions, particularly those relating to Armenia, the Balkan States, and tte territories comprising the'old Kingdom -of Poland. Th e noble, historic traditions and long sufferings of the latter, especially in the present war, should arouse the nations' sympathies. The Note believes that the acceptance of the foregoing leading points would prevent a recurrence of quarrels and prepare the solution of the economio question. Thft Pope concludes with an earnest and prayerful appeal to the belligerents to turn a favourable ear to the commn nication.

Cardinal Gasparri, in a covering letter with the Note, asks the King to convey copies to the Presidents of France and the United States, and the King of Italy, in consequence of the absence of diplomatic relations.