Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-05

me I shall not for a moment question
the propriety of his action. On the
other hand, I, in my turn, must decline
TO make any stipulations or to submit
to any conditions which in any way lin
it my freedom of conduct. trust that
on April he viii find 1t convenient to
receive me-" Another cable, received
two days later agreed to his entire
right to freedom Of conduct, but en-
phasizing however, the limitations TO
which he must agree in the following
sentence: '-.
"On the other hand, In view OF the
circumstances for which neither his holi-
ness nor Mr.. Roosevelt is responsible,
the audience could not take place except
on the understanding expressed In the
former message"
No other construction could be placed
on this message than it was an ultima
tum; thereupon from Cairo Colonel
Roosevelt wired Ambassador Leishman
stating that Of course the presentation
was now clearly impossible. While this
correspondence was in progress, Mr..
Roosevelt was cabling Mr.. Leishman,
declining to make any engagements for
any outside persons, or bodies, reiterat-
ing that he should await his arrival in
Rome. Colonel Roosevelt deeply re-
grets that the incident should have oc-
CURED. because of the possible acrimo-
MUS controversy which may arise.
thing he would deplore above everything
else. I can state positively that he has
absolutely no feeling in the matter,
showing the same breadth of character
that he displayed while in the White
House. His attitude is perhaps best
shown by his invitation to the American
franciscan sisters to tea in his apart
ments at Shepards and by the contri-
button he made to their new building.
Familiar as I am with all the facts,
and looking at his action from the view
point of an American Catholic I person
ally feel that any other action Colonel
Roosevelt might have taken would have
resulted in humiliation Of not only him
self but Of the American people, Cath
Ollie as well as Protestant, ana would
have established an unwise precedent OF
serious consequence to the future. Col
oneI Roosevelt is entirely convinced that
his fellow Americans, Catholics and
Protestants, will accept as matter of
course that he has acted In the only way
possible for him TO act.
The vatican published a statement last
night protesting that no threat was in
tended In the messages to Colonel
Roosevelt, the expression to which he
took exception being merely a friendly
suggestion Of the advisability Of avoid
ing the committing of an act offensive
to the pope, such as to countenance the
Methodists. But Colonel Roosevelt takes
the position that the vatican was not
justified in assuming that he intended to
be offensive, a thing the farthest from
his mind.
The vatican holds hat he had no
right, in view of his request for an audi
ence, to take any step while in Rome to
which the holy father could object, as
he certainly would do If he made any
recognition at any time while in Rome
of the Methodist propaganda. The Meth.
odiEts are charged with pernicious &C
tivity including "biabolical" attacks up
on the pope, and under the circum-
stances, the vatican feels that a repeti-
ton of the Fairbanks incident is prefer
able to backing down from the position
adopted, especially in view OF the great
er eclat the Methodists would enjoy
from SO popular a man as Colonel Roose-
Welt.
All Rome Is on tiptoe, awaiting Col
onel RooEevelt's course during the re-
mainder OF his stay. There need be no
question but that America will be with
out rancor toward the vatican. This
evening he Will dine at the palace. Be-
fore the dinner the entire Roosevelt fam
fly win be presented to the queen and
the queens mother.
1t appears that II was John CalIan
O'Laughlin who was assistant secretary
of state in 1909. and a great personal
friend Of Mr.. Roosevelt, who attempted
10 intercede with Cardinal Merry del
Val. The following semi-official version
Of what transpired at that interview has
been furnished by vatican authority: