The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-05
NOTHING IN 1T.
The Pope Was Not Asked to Mediate Be-
tween the Two Nations.

The Pope Was Not Asked to Mediate Be-
tween the Two Nation.
Washington. April 4.-In view of the
sensational character of the news from
Madrid, one of the officials in consulta-
ton with the president was induced TO
look over the press bulletins When
ne read one which said that the United
States and Spain had agreed to sele CT
the pope as a mediator and thai the
pope had accepted the position, ,le said
with emphasis:
This country has not asked the pope
TO mediate. Every one knows thai he
pope, like every other Christlln man,
would like to avoid a war If possible
That fact has been repeatedly punt sh-
ed. III Is known To the administration,
unofticially of course, but only that
way. The president has never been
asked to submit the dispute io the pope
and he certainly has never made such
an offer. Spain and the pope may have
been negotiating, but that does not
affect us. You can deny the sCury ojH-
cially and in the fullest possible man
ner."
From another source It was learned
that the efforts of the pope INV. tended
toward mediation between the Spanish
and the insurgents, rather than be-
tween the Spanish and the Unite a
states. Ii is said on good authority
that IL the president was looking for a
mediator he world more likely take the
queen of England than the pope. The
Monroe doctrine expressly forblds any
possible interference by European
powers in American affairs, and the
pope has never yet given up his Calm
TO temporal power. 1t has been UNDER
stood here that the first effort - the
pope was to induce Spain to give UP
Cuba peaceably and those efforts ore
SunnnGpI N ha tho -.
the Madrid dispatch.
DR.. Rocker, secretary of the papal
legation i'm Washington, was walked
up at midnight and asked about the
report. He said: Il place no depend
ence in it. Ii is not the custom Of the
pope to offer mis- services in any matter
of this kind. Any negotiations for
such mediation must of necessity come
from the countries interested. 1t would
be necessary for Spain to notify her
minister here. who would lay the mat
ter before President Mckinley. II the
president asked the pope to mediate Il
might be done. but not otherwise. I
have never heard of any such negotia-
tions in any manner"
While no offer of mediation has been
made by Pope Leo XIII. to the United
States, since the vatican never initiates
a tender of it's services as mediator or
and this country has made
no such request, there is little doubt
that unofficial representations have
been made as to the interest felt by the
pope in the preservation OF peace.
There is reason to believe. however
that the pope's influences are being ex-
erted much more directly and with |
greater effect at Madrid than at Wash !
ington. The pope is the godfather Of /
the young king of Spain. and Pope Plus I
TX. was the godfather of Alphonso XII, |
the late king of Spain. This indicates |
the great influence which the vatican /
exercises over the Spanish dynasty the I
royal family and the country at large |
being thoroughly Catholic.
Owing TO this. IL is not doubted that /
the influence of the pope would be /
most important. and probably decisive. |
in inducing Spain TO make every con- /
ression possible toward the mainte- /
nance of peace. Furthermore, IL is /
known officially that these influences !
are being exerted at the present mo- /
nent. and that they promise TO be pro- |
iuctive Of results.