Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05
NO BASIS IN FAC 7
Alleged Communications Be-
tween President and Pope.
WITHOUT FOUNDATION
STORIES CIRCULATED TO MAKE
POLITICAL CAPITAL.
Mr.. Roosevelt's Exchange Of Literary
Works With Leo XIII-Personality
of Rampolla, Italy's Greatest Man.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record-Herald
ROME, December &c. 1903.
My attention has been called to the pub
locations In American papers about myster1-
Gus communications that are said to have
been going on between President Roosevelt
and the pope, which are treated as If they
might imperil the liberty of our nation
and the political institutions in which we
take so much pride. While do not be-
lieve that any amount of correspondence
between the President of the United States
and the pope of Rome on any possible
subject would make the slightest difference
In the happiness and prosperity Of our
people, there is not the slightest foundation
for the rumors, and It Is evident that
somebody has been circulating falsehoods
and then trying to make political capital
cut of them.
Diligent inquiry at all possible sources OF
information fails to discover any commune
cation between the President of the United
States and the new pope directly or indi-
rectly. There was a mysterious individual
here some weeks ago who gave the name
of Roosevelt, and somehow or another
story was started that he was relative
of the President and had come over upon
an important diplomatic errand. But he
did not report at the embassy. and disap-
peared as suddenly as he came. The only
act of any significance that can discover
was his request for an audience with the
pope on the ground that he was related to
the President. In making his application
he did not even pretend to be In Rome
on official business. He was actuated by
motives of curiosity only. Audiences with
the pope are never refused. but they are
not always granted. and the mysterious
Mr.. Roosevelt was only one Of the many
thousands who have waited In vain for
favorable answer until they became dis
eouraged and left town.
The Only Official Communication.
The only official communication that has
been received at the Vatican from our gov
err ment since Plus = was crowned is the
letter Of credentials as commissioner for the
St. Louis exposition which brought from
Secretary Hay, and which was duly pub
lished few days ago. The last commune
cation President Roosevelt had with the
Vatican was an interchange of literary
works between himself and the late Leo
XIII. 1 saw the set of handsomely bound
volumes which our President sent over
down in the library the other day, where
Father Ehrle the librarian, is going
through the library of Leo XIII and Sc
lecting such books as are valuable and
appropriate for the pontifcal library. OF
course the Roosevelt collection will be re-
tanned. 1t is highly priced Most of the
his writings were already noted in the cata-
logue. having been purchased as they were
issued from time to time.
The fact that the pope ard our President
have not been in communication, however,
must not be construed as evidence that they
do not admire and esteem each other I hap
pen to know that Plus x has q very high
opinion of the President of the United
States and If one may judge by his inquis-
itiveness is eager to learn all about him.
He inquiries of every American whom he
meets concerning the prospects OF Roose-
velt's reelection, and IL surprisingly famil-
liar with his career and character. He has
frequently expressed regret that he cannot
have the pleasure Of meeting the President
personally, and is anxious to maintain
friendly relations.
He charged me especially to tell the Pres
ident of his appreciation OF the compliment
involved in the invitation to the holy see to
participate in the st. Louis exposition, and
construed it as token OF the good will
OF the American people to him personally,
we'll to the Catholic Church, because
1t is the first time that the pope Of Rome
has ever been invited to send commission
and an exhibit to an internationa exhibit
ton. He desired particularly that the Pres
ident should know OF his solicltude for the
prosperity Of the American people and their
peace and happiness He would be pleased