The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-10
1905, and you answered that the matter was
nnai: Faithfully yours.
.s-. BRILAn SroRnR.

matter.
The President 20 Mr. stOreF.
Let me repeat to you that In reference TO
matters affecting the Catholic Church events
have absolutely shown that while you are
Ambassador you must keep absolutely clear
Of any deed or word in Rome or whe
which would seem TO differentiate your POSI-
ton from that Of other Ambassadors The
mere fact Of a report In the newspapers about
your calling at the Vatican had a very unfor-
tunate effect. l dare say you did not call.
You may merely have seen some Cardinal
privately. but the unpleas ant talk over the
AFFAIR emphasizes the need OF extreme cir
cumspection while you are in your present
position. While | am President and you
are Amba ssa dor neither Of US in his public
relation IL TO act as Catholic or Protestant.
Jew or Gentle, and We have to be careful not
merely to do what IL right but no to carry
ourselves az to show that we are doing what
IL right. shall ask you not 10 quote me TO
any person in any shape or way in connection
with any affair Of the Catholic Church and
yourself not to take action Of any kind which
will give ground for the belief that You as an
American Ambassador are striving to inter-
fere in the AFFAIRS Of the Church.
"REsoLvED TO MY ACTION
This letter, with its virtual assertion that
my visit 10 the Vatican was not only I'M
authorized, but was so contrary to what
could rave been expected that the Presi-
dent hardly then believed that IL had oc-
Cured, was unintelligible except on the
theory that he had resolved to repudiate all
authority for my action. and to appear
ignorant OF it, and was now writing a letter
which would be serviceable il needed later
a. evidence to support that position. In
fact, this was the use to which the letter
was afterward actually put by him in quot
ing it to persons not informed Of the facts,
a. will appear later. | felt that the only
thing for me to do in this situation was to
tender my resignation at once, and that l
Immediately did, accompanying it by a
letter TO the President Of which / regret to
say that I can find no copy. To his 1
received the following reply:
The President 10 MIR. stOrer.
WHITE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 20, 1904.
DEAR BELLAMY. l have your letter. IL is
absolutely all right, we will treat the Incl
dent as closed Nothing could persuade me
to accept your resignation, old fellow. and
! am sure John Hay feels as | do. When |
see you | shall explain. as l do not like
TO do on paper. both how full had been the
steps taken by Hay in investigating the
matter, and the Use that was made against
me OF your letter. l shall give Hay your
note. Faithfully yours,
THEoDoRE ROOSEVELT.
With this the incident closed | had fol-
lowed exactly the Presidents request in
seeing Pope Pius X. | had reported to
him in detail my interview; | had put it
sauarely to him that l had lone nothing
beyond what he had asked me to do, and
he had thereupon left the subject, not dis
avowing. his authority nor dissenting from
my statement. l accordingly accepted as
sincere the cordial ex expressions with which
he refused TO accept my resignation, as it
was apparent that his irritation had been
caused, not by my acts, but by the publicity
which had unfortunately been given to things
which he wished to have done but wished
to he kept secret. The President never
alluded TO any phase Of this matter again
until two years later, when, in pressing for
my resignation. he quoted to my wife these
letters of December, 1903. az evidence that
he had then been displeased by my con-
duct.
ROOSEVELT HADN'T IN 1904.
Daring the two years from January,
1904, to December, 1906. matters OF the
Catholic Church were not brought into our
correspondence. | continued To he on the
same terms Of close intimacy with the Pres
ident as before. and his letters and inter-
views showed the same apparent friend
ship and confid ence. His attitude toward
Archbishop Ireland and the possible APP
pointment of the Archbishop to the Office Of
Cardinal evidently remained unchanged, for
shortly after writing to me his letter of Dec
ember 80, 1903, given above, he talked with
the Archbishop about the newspaper article,
inquired how it could have got into print,
referred to the letter just written to MIR.
Storer, expressed bis confidence in Mr..
Storer and his hope that the outcome
of MIR. Storer's mission would be what all
desired and repeated his expression Of
friendship for the Archbishop, referring
90 his message sent through me 10 the
Pore with no sign Of change OF feeling,
though regretting the publicity which had
followed. Ny authority for this statement
is a letter written 10 me 10y Archbishop
Ireland at the time february ?, 1904. /
may recall without improperly the facts that
during 1904 the Presidential campaign
was in progress and that Archbishop Ire
land was a Republican deservedly having
great influence over the immense body of
kDIIiGh NullNbltN OA'l' - VIZ " NV W.
that cordial relations with him and a readi-
ness to be OF assistance in his expected
promotion TO still higher influence were
very natural on the Presidents part, aside
from the personal friendliness which, as
the President always declared, he felt for
the Archbishop.
In the summer Of 1904 | was in the United
States on leave Of absence from my post.
and in October ! was, with my wife, a guest
at the White House. During hat visit the
President spoke to me with great warmth
of Archbishop Ireland. desiring his eleva-
ton to the Cardinals Office, and always
without suggestion Of any dissa i~sfaction
with what had been previously done by me
toward that end, IN the evening of October
20 he made to my wife re marks on the sub
jcct which we're so significant that she i'm
mediately made a memorandum OF them.