Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-04-08
RECEIVED BY VICTOR EMMANUEL,
BUT FOREGOES AUDIENCE WITH
HOLY FATHER.
LIKE THE FAIRBANKS INCIDENT.
Former President States He Could Not
Accept Any Stipulation Limiting
His Freedom of Conduct.
CREATES SENSATION IN ROME.

ROME, April 4. - Now that Mr.
Roosevelt has made public the docu-
ments which the Vatican had considered
confidential, Cardinal Merry del Val,
papal secretary Of state, wishes the en-
tire history of the negotiations for the
audience which the former President
sought of Pope Plus X to be known.
Cardinal Merry del Val is credited
with the responsibility for the Vatican's
part in the matter and the following
may be accepted as his version:
Following the exchange between Mgr.
Kennedy and American Ambassador
Leishman and Mr.. Roosevelt's decision
not to be received under the terms i'm
posed, John Callen O'Loughlin, who was
assistant secretary Of state in 1909 and
personal friend of Mr.. Roosevelt, called
upon Cardinal Merry del Val bearing an
introduction from Mgr. FalConio, apos-
tolic delegate in the United States. I'M
mediately after being introduced to the
presence of Cardinal Merry Mr..
OLoughln said:
Il do not come in the name of Mr..
Roosevelt, but on my own account as an
American Catholic"
Cardinal Merry del Val said '"Then
what are we here for? 1t is useless to
discuss the matter. If you do not repre-
sent Mr.. Roosevelt you cannot make
any arrangement or speak for him"
Mr.. OLoughlin replied: What | con-
slider important is to tell your eminence
that if the two dispatches sent by Mgr.
Kennedy are retracted, L can assure you
that Mr.. Roosevelt will accept an audi
enCe,"
Il n
not discuss Mr.. Roosevelt's rights, but
give me confidential assurance that, de
facto, Mr.. Roosevelt, will not 20 to the
Methodists and the audience will occur. -
Mr.. O'Loughlin refused 10 give this as
Surance.
The cardinal then said: Mr.. Roosevelt
is free to 90 to the Mpthodists and do
whatever he chooses, but the pontiff is
certainly free not to receive a man who
who would claim the right TO insult
him on the day after having been re
celved by him, or, perhaps, on the same
day, rs, according to your statement, he
may leave Rome on the same day Of the
papal audience, thus having only be
tween noon and evening Tuesday in
which to see the Methodists
1T IS of little consequence whether
he Is a Catholic, Protestant, Israeite or
Buddhist. All religious persons merit
the same esteem. The important thing is
form of belief is concerned, | believe that
all honest people will be always on good
terms with God"
Creates Sensation in Rome.
The determination of Mr.. Roosevelt to
fOregO an audience with Pope Plus X.
rather than subscribe to the conditions
imposed by the Vatican has created a
sensation.
This unfortunate anu unexpected Incl
dent OvCrshadOWed every other feature
of the distinguished Americans visit to
the Eternal City.
MIR. Roosevelt sought an audience with
the pontitf through American Ambassa-
dor Leishman and received reply that
the holy father would be delighted to
receive him, but the answer was coupled
with an expression of the hope that the
audience would not be prevented by such
regrettabe incident as made an audi
ence for former Vice PRESIDENT Fair
banks impossible.
Mr.. Roosevelt in turn stated that he
could not accept any stipulation limiting
lis freedom of conduct. To the latter
message the Vatican made answer that
the audience could not take place except
ing on the understanding first made
known. On March 20, Mr.. Roosevelt
sent TO Ambassador LeiShman the fol-
lowing cablegram:
Proposed presentation is of course,
now lupOSSlDIe.
Mr.. Roosevelt insists that the incident
be treated as purely personal and earn
eSty hopes that 1t will not give rise to
any bitterness. He appreciates the att
tude of the Vatican, but feels that as a
free American citizen he cannot consist
emily take any action that might be CON
strued as involving a limitation Of the
freedom OF mis- personal conduct. He
had made no engagement to address the
Metn0dlStS or other religious bodies of
Rome, but at the same time thinks that
he should not make promises as to what
he will or will not do. 1t would appear
today that, SO far as the Vatican and
ME-. Roosevelt are concerned, the incl
dent is closed
News Makes Deep Impression.
The news that the former President
had abandoned his proposed visit to the
Vatican reached the morning papers
very late, but made a deep impression
Inc MesSagcro, an antl-cierical organ,
alone comments editorially upon the mat
ter. This paper says:
w hen the news was spread it was
received with incredulity, many regard
ing 1t rs a malicious fabrication of the
enemies of the Catholic church, but
when confirmed it produced CONNECT dis
astrous TO the Vatican. Men of every
religion daily visit the Pope without first
giving the itinerary of the Churches
which they intend to visit. Why sho lid
the Vatican require Mr.. Roosevelt to ig-
more the churches of his own religion
during his short stay in Rome? The in
cident will not add to the diplomatic
fame of the Pope's advisers.
Mr.. Roosevelt as the head of tbe
great American republic. followed the