PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 August 1917, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

NOTE LIKELY TO BE A FROST. LONDON. August 15. The “Morning Post’s” Rome correspondent states that the Pope’s Note will undoubtedly be a i-‘frost. ’’ Italy’s best reply will be found in, the address delivered to 42 Provincial Councils, the tenor of which is almost unanimous that peace is only attainable when the possibility of a repetition of this war has been absolutely prevented. DENOUNCED BY BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, August 15. Newspapers declare that the Pope’s Note is strongly marked hy German inspiration and its proposals are utterly inadmissible, besides betraying a‘ lamentable ignorance of the opinions of the Allied countries. THE POPE ANNOYED LONDON, August 15. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says the Vatican is annoyed at the premature publicity given to the Note, which the Pope intended to issue without earlier announcement, thus avoidirjg adverse comment. Nuncios of every belligerent country have been for months making secret inquiries as to the attitude of belligerents. The investigations attracted attention, causing the Vatican to re peatedly deny rumours regarding the Issue of a peace manifesto. The text of the Papal Note addressed to the heads of the belligerent 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 power to hasten the end of the war. He states that he has not ceased during three painfulyears to exhort the belligerent peoples and Governments to resume fraternal relationship, although everything has been done to attain this object without publicity. His Holi ness refers to the want of success of the previous Papal peace movement since when the Avar has become more cruel, extending on land and sea and even in the air. Defenceless cities, quiet villages dnd innocent inhabitants have been stricken by desolation and death. The Note en\ Tisages the multiplied and aggravated sufferings if the w r ar continues, 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 th Faithful, also his solicitations for his children, imploring "intervention, as Avell as the voice of humanity and reason, impel him to renew his pressing appeal for peace, but in order not to confine himself to general terms, as previously, he now submits more concrete, practical proposals. He invites the belligerent Governments to deliberate on the folloAviug points, Avhich seem to form the basis of a firm and lasting peace. The point ought to be the substitution of material force of arms by the moral forces of right, Avhence an agreement for a simultaneous reciprocal reduction of armaments according to the rules and guarantees, should be decreed, retaining only such as AA r .ould be necessary for the maintenance of public order in each State. Then there should be the establishment of arbitration, providing for concerted action against any State refusing to submit international questions thereto and accept decisions.

& POPE’S PEACE PROPOSALS. Received 8.45 a.m. COPENHAGEN, August 10. It Is reported from Berlin that the Pope’s intervention was in response to neutrals appeals.

THE PEACE PROPOSALS. HAND THE POPE ’S. BUT VOICE 18 THE KAISER Received 10 a.m. LONDON, August 16. The Daily Mail states the hand is the Pope’s but the voice is the Kaiser ’s. The British Empire would fly in pieces if the Allies entertained the Pope’s proposal to restore the colonies, that is why the proposal is put forward. The Germans are cunningly calculating that mere discussion of such terms will rouse doubts about dissentions. The harder Germany is pressed the more desperately she will devise expedients to divide the Allies. We must resolutely refuse to discuss ‘‘‘any terms before wictory is attained. LABOUR .PASSPORTS ..PROBLEM. LABOUR EXECUTIVE SUPPORTED Received 8.50 a.m. LONDON, August 16. The South Wales Miners Federation supported the Labour Executive, and endorsed the application for passports.