The Detroit times., 1910-04-05

ROME, April 4.-Cardinal Merry Del
Val. papal secretary of state. today
placed the blame for the Vatican con-
troversy upon the shoulders Of Col.
Theodore Roosevelt.
Without Issuing any formal state
ment, he indicated tlrat II Roosevelt
had quietly acquiesced in the plans
made for his reception by the Pope,
the Vatican would have been only too
glad to make 1t plain that his acquies-
cence was III no wise a submission or
yielding on his part and a worldwide
discussion that has already reached
the dimensions of religious political
tempest, could thus have been avoid
ed
When IL was suggested to the car
dinal that the Vatican had really open
ed the way for the breach by its in
itial suggestion. contained in Mgr.
Kennedys message to Ambassador
Leishman, that Roosevelt avoid the
mistake committed" by Fairbanks,
when the Vatican had already been
unofiicially informed that Roosevelt
was not contemplating an address to
the Methodists. the cardinal admitted
that possibly Mgr. Kennedy had not
Interpreted his message as diplomats.
cally as he might have done.
There was no denial. however, from
the cardinal that Mgr. Kennedy's mes
sage, in tone, at least, was dictated by
the Vatican.
In Rome, except among Catholics,
the feeling is manifest today that Coz.
Roosevelt acted in the best possible
way In refusing TO accept an invitation
TO have an audience with the Pope 70.
morrow as long as the invitation car
ried with it such restrictions upon his
conduct as implied in Mgr. Kennedy's
final kilograms Ia Col. Roosevelt, de-
livered TO him at Cairo
Summed up. this restriction was that
Roosevelt could not be received b.
the Pope If he contemplated a prior
address TO the Methodists OF Rome
This was the Fairbanks incident" that
Mgr. Kennedy referred TO.
Roosevelt contemplated no such ad.
dress, but did not like the implied die.
tation and sent word TO Ambassador
I.eishman that he would not submit 10
any stipuiations regarding his move
ments while in Rome. He did not fin.
ally cancel the negotiations, however,
until he got subsequent message
from Leishman, At Cairo, which stated
that the audience with the Pope could
not take place except on the condi-
tions expressed in the former message
Proposed presentation is. OF course.
now impossible Roosevelt wired
Leishman from Cairo, under date cf
March 20.
Kings Greeting Very Cordial.
3d. H.
table by the Catholics, apparently
made no difference in King Nictor's
attitude, for he received Roosevelt az
the palace this morning with unusual
warmth.
The vatican authorities expressed
zmazement at Rcosevelts publication
of the text of the messages that passed
between him and Ambassador Leish.
man and OF Mgr. Kennedy's corrospon-
dence with the ambassador. These
messages, In the opinion of vatican aa-
thorities, were confidential, and should
have been so treated.
IL was explained that Mgr Ken
nedy's reference 10 the Fairbanks In
cident was intended as a friendly
reference in the hope that an intima-
ton along this line would avert the
pOStlDlllly VI buNI dilONhtA hApiIdodul
position arising.
The audience granted by King Victor
10 Col. Roosevelt and Kermit lasted
two hours, being one OF the longest
audiences ever granted by the king 20
anyone except on political occasions.
Roosevelt and his son drove from the
hotel Beauside in an automobile at
$50 and II was 1880 when they
emerged from the palace.
The nature of the conversation was
not divulged, but II is believed that the
length of the interview was the king 5
desire TO hear RCosevelt's side OF the
controversy with the vatican.
Roosevelt is Great Man."
They are a most interesting pair
the king remarked after the departure
or his guests. II have always looked
apon Mr.. Roosevelt as one of the great.
est men IN the world and today's meet.
lug with him has only strengthened
this impression"
The king was just as reticent as
Col. Roosevelt as To the details OF
their interview.
The departure from the palace was
made ina driving rain and hailstorm
the first bad weather the colonel has
encountered In several weeks.
Leaving the palace Roosevelt was
driven TO the Pantheon, where te
riaced wreaths on the tombs "
fnImer Kings Emmanuel, Victor and