Show THE POPES PEACE TERMS the finest review of the popes pope a term was that of the deseret news in a recent editorial we publish it in lull full as follows in the popes appeal for peace Is seen one of the results of the frequent conferences recently between the chancelleries chancell eries of berlin and vienna and the elevation ot of dr michaelis to the po post poat at vacated by von bethmann hollweg the altered attitude of the centrist or catholic Catli olic group in the german reichstag and the utterances of ono one of its prominent members dr D r erzberger are now also explained if there anere ere nothing else to show that the ole papal proposition is of german origin n the signs and symptoms referred to will go far to support that dicion Pi cion only in one feature are the pontiffs proposed terms unfavorable tor ta germany and that is the possible restoration of alsace and lorraine to france though even in this matter the words peaceful solution appear to imply ply that the question should be submitted to arbitration in brief the proposals suggest a return to the status existing before the war with Lc arcely a guarantee that the causes which produced this fearful conflict shall not continue to exist to cause another one except the altruistic suggestion as to the reduction of arms armaments and the future settlement of of international disputes by arbitration germany ermany has been practically prepared to quit on oil these terms tor for more than a year past in tact fact ever since bince tile kaiser saw his dreams al a victory brought to naught tentatively they have been actually put forth more than once by his chosen spokesman since becoming convinced that lie he could not win in by arms he has maneuvered diplomatically to place the allies in the position of re jebing the peace which lie he was ready to offer and now the pope has come to the rescue prompted as no one may doubt by the highest and worth test motives but surely at a time arid and in a way to evoke the grateful accept ance of the central empires Ein pires and the pained dismay of those opposed to them it II is almost a forea foregone one sion that after the he usual parrying and word splitting the teutonic powers would indicate their readiness to re spond to the appeal and by the same token it is always inevitable that the entente powers including america will respectfully but firmly decline to entertain it nevertheless tile the popes move puts the united states especially and the allies gena generally rally in an embarrassing position that there is is in the can n a hand skilled in diplomacy this document clearly proves no tyro could have so BO adroitly turned upon this government and the entente pow ers era their can n diplomatic guns some parts of the appeal almost exact exactly ly re iterate tile the limits of the if S war aims as defined by president wil kon and as approved by the allies how then can the united states just afy its refusal to negotiate upon the basis proposed other pa parts arta are a practical reaffirmation of the program which has proved so popular in rus rua sla sia as to palsy her fighting arm will not the clamors clamor a of this pacifist ele ment be now no more vociferous than be fore the french factions which are going to be represented at tho the bolm conference and the british factions which want to be will ungues tlona tion bly ably be impressed Impre esea and strength nned by the appeals in every belll belli brent nation it will strike a responsive s ite chord for or the world is truly war wry weary and millions are waiting to grasp at any remedy that offers relief and reposo repose heedless ot of vie the dangers of an inconclusive or even on an ignoble peace these millions are willing to write ot of their it only rest may come to their exhausted and sick nick ened souls verily though the pontiff holds aloft an ove olive branch it has I 1 also the faral on abild d flavor of an apple ot of discord until the official text ot of the document is received there can an 0 ot course bo be no official recognition of or response to it but no one need think the state find and foreign ministers of the nations are ara waiting for that before mapping out tho the course which they expect c hect to take doubtless they will confer freely one with another before making reply for harmony of action is as essential in the chambers ot of diplomacy as at the battle front it is ie quite probable that wars loud alarms will be at once stilled or that the fury of the fight will be immediately lessened as a result ot of this new development but it is morally certain that thai out ot of it will come a clearer understanding ot of the reasons for continuing the conflict it if that shall be the decision arid and a cate goral statement of the conditions upon which it can be brought to an end deseret news |