Peace Proposals - 1917-1918
On August 1, 1917, Pope Benedict XV issued a statement proposing peace terms to the belligerent nations. It proposed that moral force be substituted for The Pope's physical in human relations and recommended P^00 Plan arbitration in settling disputes between nations; that armaments should be reduced; that the freedom of the seas should be established; that no indemnities should be required except when "certain particular reasons" justify them; that occupied territories should be evacuated; and that an examination should be made of territorial claims, as in the case of Alsace-Lorraine and Trentino, and that a settlement of these claims should be made in accordance with the desires of the inhabitants. President Wilson, as spokesman for the Allies, replied to the Pope's note on August 27. Making a distinction bePresident tween the German Government and the German Wilson's people, he made it clear that it was impossible to negotiate with the irresponsible and autocratic German Government; but that there was no desire on the part of America to crush the German people, since he was opposed on general principles to punitive indemnities, to the dismemberment of empires, and to economic boycotts. Then, on January 8, 1918, President Wilson issued a more detailed statement of America's war aims. He declared in favor of the abolition of secret diplomacy, of the freedom of the seas, of the reduction of armaments, of the evacuation of occupied territories, of the complete restoration of Belgium, of the settlement of colonial claims in the interests of the inhabitants, of the "righting" of the wrong done in 1871 in the Alsace-Lorraine matter, of the readjustment of the Italian frontier on the basis of nationality, of the establishment of a Polish state consisting of all lands predominantly Polish, and of the organization of a League of Nations to preserve peace. On February 11 he especially emphasized the idea of nationality, stating that peoples should not be "bartered from sovereignty to sovereignty." On January 5, 1918, Lloyd George issued a detailed statement of Great Britain's war aims. He declared that only the lands predominantly Turkish should be permitted to remain under Turkey; that there should be a "reconsideration" of the wrong done in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine; that Belgium should be completely restored by Germany, politically, territorially, and economically; that the Balkan states should be restored; that the fate of the German colonies should be decided by an international conference according to the wishes and interests of the natives; and that a League of Nations should be formed to preserve peace. On September 20, 1917, the Central Powers, in reply to the Pope's note, had declared themselves in sympathy with his aim to substitute moral for physical force and with his desire for the limitation of armaments man peace and the freedom of the seas. On January 25, 1918, Chancellor von Hertling issued Germany's reply to President Wilson's note. He declared that he agreed with him in favoring open diplomacy, the freedom of the seas, the reduction of armaments, and a League of Nations; and, like him, he was opposed to economic boycotts. Regarding the Russian provinces conquered by Germany, it was his view that that was a matter to be settled by Germany and Russia alone; the Italian frontier and the Balkans were Austrian matters; the problem of Turkey was a Turkish matter; Germany was firmly resolved to keep Alsace-Lorraine; Belgium and Northern France were being held, not with the purpose of annexation, but for settlement at the Peace Congress. It was evident that the Central Powers were determined to keep most of their conquests, thus violating the principle of nationality advocated by President Wilson and Premier Lloyd George. Soon after the American success at St. Mihiel, Austria issued an official statement describing the great sufferings of humanity on account of the World War and Austria's requesting the "governments of all the belligerent states to send delegates to a confidential and unbinding discussion of the basic principles for the conclusion of peace." This note was regarded by the Allies as a "peace trap," prepared by Germany, who now saw defeat staring her in the face. The request of Austria was consequently refused.
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