Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-05
Roosevelt and Pope Plus x Cannot
Agree and Meeting Of Two
Cancelled.
BOTH GIVE OUT STATEMENTS
Jorn Callsn 0Lsughlin and Merry
Del Val Are Negotiators.
BOTH APPEAR WILLING TO MEET
Conditions Named by Holy Father
Seem Beyond Arbitration.
INCIDENT sTRs ROMAN CITY
Comment In Italy Disastrous to NRti-
can aS Element of Religion
Behind Trouble L.
Delicate One.


behind Trouble IL
Delicate one. ...
ROME. Apru 4,-Now that Mr. Roosevelt
has made public the documents which the
vatican had considered confidential Cardi-
nal Merry Del Val papal secretary OF
state. wishes the entire history OF the
negotiations for the audience which the
former president sought OF Pope Plus y 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 ac-
cepted as his version:
Following the exchanges between Mon
slgnor Kennedy and American Ambassador
Leishman and MI. Rousevelts decision not
to be received under the terms imposed,
John Callan OLaughln who was assistant
secretary of state In 1909 and q personal
| friend Of Mr. Roosevelt called upon Cardi-
nal Merry Del Val, bearing an Introduction
! from Monsignor Falconio. apostolic dele
gate in the United States, Immediately
after being introduced to the presence of
the cardinal MIR. OLaughlin said'
Il do not come in the name OF Mr.. Roose-
l. Welt, but on my own account as an Ameri-
can Catholic"
Cardinal Merry Del Val said:
Then what are we here for? II is use
less to discuss the matter II you do not
represent Mr.. Roosevelt you cannot make
any arrangements or speak for him"
Answer of Mr.. O'LauRhlin.
Mr.. OLaughlin replied:
| What ! consider important is to tell
your emnence that IL the two dispatches
sent by Monsignor Kennedy are retracted
I.a Doc aIt uytn
accept an audience"
Cardinal Merry Del Val said:
Il will not discuss Mr.. Roosevelt's rights,
but give me confidential assurances that.
Adefacto, Mr.. Roosevelt viii not so to the
'Methodists and the audience will occur"
Mr. OLaughiin refused to give this as
surance.
The cardinal then said
/ ''Mr Roosevelt is free to go 10 the Meth
odists and do whatevtf he chooses. but
the pontlff is certainly free not to receive
a man who would claim the right to insult
him on the day after having been received
by him, or perhaps on the same day. as
according to your statement he may leave
Rome on the same day Of the papal audi
ence, thus having only between noon and
evening Tuesday in which to see the
Methodists,
1T is of little consequence whether he is
a Catholic, Protestant, Israelte or Buddish.
All religious persons merit the same es-
teem The important thing is to be honest
and sincere So far as the form Of belief
is concerned, I believe that all honest peo-
pie will be always on good terms with
Roosevelt seeks Audience.
Mr. Roosevelt sought an audience with
81 the pope through American Ambassador
Leishman and received a 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 a regreta-
BILE incident made an audience for
former Vice President Fairbanks impossi-
, BILE.
E Mr.. Roosevelt in turn stated that he could
not accept any stipulation limiting his free
I dom of conduct. To the latter message the
Vatican made answer that the audience
could not take place excepting the un-
derstandlng first made known. On March
20 Mr.. Roosevelt sent to Ambassador Lelsh-
man the following cablegram.
Proposed presentation Is, OF course, now
impossible"
Mr.. Roosevelt insists that the incident be
-. treated as purely personal and earnestly
hopes 1t will not give rise to any bitterness.
, He appreciates the attitude OF the Vatican.
but feels that as a free American citizen
he cannot consistently take any action that
might be construed as involving a llmta-
ton of the freedom of his personal con-
/. duct.
u He had made no engagement to address
e the Methodists or other religious bodies OF
- Rome but at the same time he thinks he
should not make promises as to what he
will or will not do. It would appear today
that, so far as the Vatican and Mr.. Roose-
welt are concerned, the incident is closed.
Incident lstirs Rome.
The news that the former president has
abandoned his proposed visi to the Vatican
reached the morning papers very late, bul
made a deep impression. The Messagero
an anti-clercal organ. alone comments edi
torially on the matter This paper says:
when the news was spread It was re-
ceived with incredulity many regarding &
as a malicious fabrication OF the enemies
OF the Catholic church, but when con
flrmed it produced comment disastrous e
the Vatican Men OF every religion daill
visit the pope without first giving the itn
erary OF the churches which they inten,
TO visit Why should the Vatican requlr,
Mr. Roosevelt TO Ignore the churches o.
his own religion during his short stay IL
Rome? The incident will not add to the dip
n lomatc fame Of the popes advisors.
MI Roosevelt as the head OF the grea
American republic, followed the princlpl,
- enunciated by Premier Luzzatt a fre
church under a sovereign state. "
The Messagero places the responsbiilt!
for what It terms "blunder" on tn
popes encourage, continuing;
For 1t was bIunder to ask a certlfcst
OF acceptablty from a man nlustriou
everywhere for his intelligence and tn
nobleness Of his life. The liberty whicl
Mr., Roosevelt is defending for all. h
could not renouncs for himself"
Two Audfenees Asked.
While al Gondokoro in February last, Mr.
Roosevelt wrote TO Ambassador Leishman
saying that he would be glad OF the homo
OF an audience with King Victor Emanue
L