PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1917, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

REPLY TO PAPAL NOTE. PRESIDENT WILSON DEFINES THIS POSITION. GEiIMANY ALONE WOULD BENEFIT. AGONY MUST NOT BE REPEATED. Received Aug. 23, 7.30 p.m. IVejv York, Aug. 28. President "Wilson's reply rejects the Pope's proposals on thegrund that they involve Germany's recuperation, and points out that it is impossible to rely on the German Government's guarantees. Received Aug. 20, 11.30 p.m. 'Washington, Aug. 2!). President "Wilson, in his reply, stiyss "Every heart m ill be touched by the dignity and force of the Pope's moving appeal, but the response must be based on firm facts. The Pope does not'desire the cessation of arms, but a stablo and enduring peace. The agony must imt again, be gone through." After summarising the Pope's proposals. President Wilson continues: 'Tt is manifest that no part of the programme can be carried out unless the restitution of the status quo furnishes a linn and satisfactory 'basis. Our object is to deliver the free peoples from the menace oi the,actual power and the vast military establishment controlled by irresponsible governments which secretly planned.to dominate the 'world, and tried to carry out the plan without regard to treaties or international Germany chose her own time for the war and stuck fiercely and suddenly. She stopped at no barrier either of law or mercy, and swept the continent with a tide Or blood. It is not our business how tile German people came under their ruthless master, but we must see to it that the vest f othe world is not left to the mercy of the German Government, j We think the Pope's plan would involve the recuperation of the German Government's strength, which woidd necessitate ft permanent combination of the nationi against Germany, and would result in abandoning new-born Russia to intrigue." AMERICA'S AIM. WRONGS MUST BE REPAIRED. NO FAITH IN GERMANY'S RULERS. Received Aug. 30, 12.50 a-.m. Washington, Aug. 29. President Wilson concluded: "Can peace be based on the restitution of German power, or on any word of honor pledged by Germany? Peace cannot rest on political or economic restrictions designed to benefit some of the nations and embarrass others. The American people have suffered intolerable wrongs at the hand's of Germany, but 'we do not desire reprisals against the German people. Peace should rest on the rights of peoples and not on the actions of governments; upon the rights of all peoples to ire-edom, security, self-govern-ment, and participation upon fair terms in economic opportunities. Wc will include the. German people if they accept equality. Not. to seek domination is the test of every peace plan, whether based on the faith of Popes or merely on the word of ambitious and intriguing governments. "The. United States' aim is thus clearly stated. We believe that tho intolerable wrongs committed by the German Government ought to be repaired, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of any people. We deem it inexpedient and, in the end. worse than futile for such proposals as punitive damages, dismemberment of empires, or the estab-' lishment of selfish and exclusive economic leagues. We cannot take the word of tho present rulers of Germany as a guarantee for anything enduring, unless it is explicitly supported by conclusive evidence of the will and purpose of the Herman people. Without such guarantees, treaties, agreements, covenants, and territorial adjustments, if made by tiermany, could not be depended upon. Wo must await new evidence of the purpose of the peoples of the Central Empires, and God grant it may be given soon." THE SOCIALIST CONFERENCE. FRENCH DELEGATES TAKE ITEM STAND. .. Received Aug. 29, 7.30 p.m. London, Aug. 28. Delegates from France, Russia, Italy, Greece. Portugal, 'Belgium, and South Africa were present at the Socialist ConI ference. Mr. Henderson, in his opening address, declared that momentous issues depended upon the Conference's decisions. Tho speeches of the French delegates indicated 'wide differences on many important points, nota'lly the 'Stockholm Conference. They declined representation on tho commission which tho conference appointed to deal with this subject. A commission was also appointed to deal generally with peace terms. STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. BLOCKED BY PASSPORT DOTI-CU-LTIES. Times Service, i Received Aug; HO, 12.55 a.m. London, Aug. 2ft. The official report of the Socialist Conference discloses that the Stockholm Conference cannot be held on September i) owing to passport difficulties.