CONSCRIPTION IS ONE OF THE HIDEOUS BURDENS OF A FREE PEOPLE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2440

CARDINAL CALLS WILSON'S IDEA OF A SOCIETY OF NATIONS A DREAM

Rome, Italy (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, September 22, 1917, Pope Benedict's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Gasparri*, told the Associated Press...

"President Wilson's proposal to reduce armaments and impose international arbitration by force through a society of nations is a dream.  An international army to enforce the verdicts of the court of arbitration?  In which country would it be located?  The moon is the only place possible."

The Cardinal opposed conscription.  He believed that if it was ended, militarism would soon decline and international peace would follow.

Cardinal Gasparri said...

"Conscription is one of the hideous burdens of a free people."


*Pietro Gasparri (1852-1934) was born in Capovallazza di Ussita & served as Cardinal Secretary of State under Pope Benedict XV & Pope Pius XI from 1914 to 1930.  PG played a major role in the codification of canon law.

SOURCE

"Pope's Aid Hits At Wilson", Chicago Sunday Tribune, September 23, 1917.

Pietro Gasparri

Cardinal Secretary of State

1914-1930

WE CANNOT TAKE THE WORD OF GERMANY

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2415

PRESIDENT WILSON REJECTS POPE'S PEACE PROPOSALS

Vatican City (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, August 28, 1917, Pope Benedict XV* received a reply to his peace proposals from Woodrow Wilson.  The President of the United States rejected the proposals on the grounds that their acceptance would translate into "a renewal of the furious and brutal policy of the German imperial government."

In Mr. Wilson's view, the proposals would only give Germany more time to "renew its craving" for world domination.

The President wrote...

"We cannot take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee of anything..."

JFK+50 NOTE

Pope Benedict XV's 7 point peace plan of August 1, 1917

1) moral force of right...be substituted for material force of arms
2) diminution of armaments
3) mechanism for international arbitration
4) common rights over the seas
5) renunciation of war indemnities
6) evacuation of occupied territories
7) examination of rival claims 

*Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922) was born in Pegli, Italy & educated at the University of Genoa.  PB XV served as pontiff from 1914-1922.  World War I was the dominant issue of his reign.

SOURCE

"No U.S. Peace With Kaiser," The Chicago Daily Tribune, August 29, 1917.

Pope Benedict XV

Library of Congress Image (1915)