The Detroit times., 1910-04-07
ROOSEVELT AFFAIR.
IS REGRETTED BY
Pope Plus
Close Advisers Urge Him To Send
Letter To Former President Re-
gardless of Consequences To
Cardinal Merry Del Val.
Pontiff Tries To Find Way To Do
So Without Embarrassing Papal
Secretary.

ROME, April There Is semi-ofi-
cial authority today for the statement
that IL the Pope can find way TO do
SO without arraigning too severely the
conduct of Cardinal Merry Del VAL he
will send a letter TO Col. Roosevelt re-
GREETING the Vatican incident.
II is known that several OF the
Pope's closest advisers are urging him
to do this regardless OF the conse.
Quences 10 the papal secretary OF
state, but the Pope has expressed the
desire not to embarrass the cardinal.
There is no doubt in the minds OF
those who have talked with the Pope
that he regards the breach in the
negotiations between Roosevelt and
the Vatican as the most regrettable
incident OF his career as pontin. one
of the highest officials In the vatican
declared today that IF It were all TO
do over no such unseemly situation
would arise"
The Pope's consideration Cor Cardin-
al Merry Del Val Is not shared gen
orally by the cardinals or those In
authority In Catholic circles. Among
them the feeling Is strong that the
-papal secretary has committed an
other blunder," and one that should
mark his retirement from the respon-
-sible position he holds. This senu'
.ment finds frequent expression both
In public utterances Of high clerics
and In papers friendly to the Vatican.
The Osservatore Romano, the organ
OF the Vatican. publishes the follow
ing note from the Office OF Cardinal
Merry del Val. papal secretary of
state, its publication following trans
lations of Rev. Mr.. Triples state
ment and the one by Mr.. Roosevelt:
I'm the last analysis 1t is ques
ton of simple, pure courtesy. The
holy see did not impose on Mr.. Roose-
welt, as has been falsely stated,
condition that he must not approach
the Methodists or other non-Cathoiic
religious associations In Rome. There
are several non-Catholic centers in
the city, which, however. do not be-
have in a harshly hostile and often
sive manner towards the Pope and
everything the Pope and all Catholics
held most dear The Methodist cen
ter in the Via Venti Settlembre is,
instead, Systematically united with
the worst anti-clerical and anti-papai
elements in the city, and displays
such attitude in the most notorious
manner and in the most aggressive
and insulting form. Mr.. Roosevelt
himself had a slight limited sample
of This In the declaration published
recently by the Methodists which he
felt obliged TO disavow.
The holy see, after the regrettable
Fairbanks incident. had every reason
to fear that Mr.. Roosevelt unwilling
~ and in perfect good faith would
have been led to manifest open SYM
pathy and friendship towards this
hostile center of aggression against
the Catholic church in the very heart
of the Catholic world Therefore,
when Mr.. Roosevelt requested indi-
rcctly and confidentially an audience
of his holiness. the hope was courte-
ously expressed that he would be |
guarded against being dragged into |
the false position of seemingly public |
ly supporting the offensive campaign |
against the Pope within his own see. !
Mr.. Roosevelt replied by refusing !
any condition or stipulation, thus ad- |
hitting the possibility of his ac- |
complishing an action which would |
be a grave offense 10 his holiness |
This was amply confirmed by the re. |
Auodi W biNC any dSSul ante. AL |
audience thus became impossible |
Therefore II was a question OF pure !
ordinary courtesy and surely courtesy
is not incompatible with the rights |
and freedom of any American citi- |
zen"
Albert Lawrence Janssens. a learn.
ed Benedictine, and secretary OF tho
Congregation OF the Affairs OF Re.
ligions, called on Col Roosevelt last
evening and. not finding him in. LETT
card on which he expressed thanks
for the constant support given TO his
order and the Catholic church in gen
eral in America.
Col. Roosevelt also received letters
from relatives of high prelates and
cardinals -condemning what they styl-
ed the personal attitude of Cardinal
Merry Del Val. for which neither the
Pope nor the Catholic church was
responsible"
DR.. Willing Clark, head OF the
Methodist organization OF Italy. also
wrote Col. Roosevelt expressing re-
greet for the denunciation OF the Cath.
Ole church in Rome that was uttered