Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-07
NOT A LIKELY STORY
STATED OBJECT OF CARDINAL
sAToLLI's VISIT.
To Attempt to Secure Diplomatic Rela-
lions Between This Country
and the Vatican.

No little significance is being attached TO
the coming visit of Cardinal Satolli, project
of the Congregation Of Studies of Rome, to
this country. Speculation is rife as to the
cause of his visit and what he expects to
accomplish by it. Several statements have
been made based upon apparently good
grounds, but all of which have no real
foundation other than idle speculation, it is
said. There is one persistent story that
crops up almost every time the cardinals
visit is mentioned in Catholic society. how
ever, which may or may not have some
thing Of truth in it. Publication was given
this statement this morning. 1t is to the
effect that the visit of the high prelate is
for the purpose of securing the establish
ment of diplomatic relations between the
Vatican and the government of the United
States. 1t Is well known that when he was
here as papal delegate Cardinal Satolli
most earnestly desired to open diplomatic
relations with this government The over
lures of the cardinal were rejected, how
ever, and it is understood that he comes
this time under better auspices.
Alleged Conditions.
1t is pointed out that there exists a cool
ness between Satolli and Cardinal Gibbons
and that the former will not visit Balti-
more during his trip through the country.
Cardinal Gibbons is known to be strongly
opposed to any efforts to open diplomatic
relations between this country and the
Vatican. Mgr Falconio, the present papal
delegate is out of the country at present,
and those who profess to know the secret
of the Satolli mission claim that he was
asked to absent himself 30 that he could
leave the coast clear for the visiting prel-
ate. 1t Is claimed that Archbishop Ireland
and Mgr. O'Connell, rector of the Catholic
University, will assist the cardinal in pre-
senting his case to the President, and the
statement is made that Archbishop ireland
is powerful with the republican party. II
the negotia lions are brought to a successful
termination. it is further said, the arch
bishop will be made a cardinal and OCon-
nell will be named by the pope as the first
nunco to the United States. Heretofore
Archbishop Ireland has been looked upon
by churchmen one of the most demo-
cratic of the American hierarchy, and, with
Cardinal Gibbons. he has opposed the intro
ductiOn into the church in America of the
European ideas Of the Vatican's temporal
powers as being bad for the church. The
fact remains. however, that Cardinal Sa-
tell is to visit Washington and be the
guest of Mgr. O'Connell that he will not
visit Baltimore or Cardinal Gibbons and
that he will visit and consult with Arch
bishop Ireland at St. Paul, the headquar-
tiers of the archbishops see. 1t is on these
facts that the story of the alleged diplo-
matte negotiations is based.
Nothing tn the Story.
Careful inquiry was made this morning
as to what is known among the Catholics
in Washington of the forthcoming visit,
and on very high AUTHORIZATION a member
of the church who Is close to all parties
interested or said to be interested in the
matter, and who would know If there was
anything unusual in the air-the statement
is made that there is absolutely nothing in
the story of the diplomatic negotiations.
This authority stated that he knew that at
least one of the alleged parties to the nego-
tiations knew nothing about them and had
never heard of them until he read the
stories in the newspapers. Persons IA
miliar with the history of the politics of the
church in this country state that the mat
ter does not merit serious attention, be-
cause Satolli exhausted every effort to
bring about the end he desired while he
was stationed here, and was convinced be-
fore he went back to Rome that every at
tempt to open regular and formal diplo-
matte relations between the United States
government and the Vatican was absolutely
useless.