Evening journal., 1910-04-04
BLAME
ON ROOSEVELT
Del Val Says Acceptance Of
Plans Would Not Have
Meant Yielding
ROOSEVELT HONORED
TODAY BY ITALY'S KING
BY United Press Leased Special wire


ROME. April 4-Cardinal Merry Del
Val. papal secretary OF State. has
placed the blame for the Vatican
controversy upon the shoulders of Col
onel Theodore Roosevelt
without Issuing any formal state
ment he indicated to-day that II Mr..
Roosevelt had quietly acquiesced in
the plans made for his reception by
the Pope the Vatican would have been
only too glad to make IL plain that
his acquiesence was in no wise a sub
mission or yielding on his part and a
world wide discussion that has already
reached the dimensions of a religious
political tempest, could have been
avoided.
When it was suggested to the Cardi-
nal that the Vatican had really open
ed the way for the breach by its initial
suggestion, contained in Monsignor
/ Kennedy's message to Ambassador
| Leishman, that Mr.. Roosevelt avoid the
mistake" committed by Mr.. Fair
| banks, when the Vatican had already
/ been unofiicially informed that Mr..
| Roosevelt was not contemplating an
address to the Methodists, the Cardi-
nal admitted that possibly Monsignor
Kennedy had not worded his message
as automatically as he might have
done.
There was no denial. however, from
the Cardinal that Monsignor Kennedy's s
message. in tone at least. was dictated
by the Vatican.
Cardinal Merry Del Walls attempt.
however, to put he blame upon Mr..
Roosevelt does not meet with general
concurrence. Even a great many
Catholics say that a mistake was made
in dealing with an issue before II had
arisen and that it would have been
far better not to have anticipated any
movements on Roosevelt's part that
would have barred him from the
Vatican.
Believe Roosevelt Right
Everywhere in Rome except among
Catholics the feeling is manifest to-
day that Colonel Roosevelt acte'
wholly within, not only his rights. bu
in conformity 10 his dignity and posi-
rion, in refusing to accept an INVITA-
tion 70 have an audience with tn
Pope tomorrow as long as the invita-
ton carried with II such restriction
upon his conduct as was implied II
Monsignor Kennedy's final telegram e
Colonel Roosevelt, delivered 70 him a
Cairo.
Summed up this restriction was tha
Roosevelt could not be received by thu
Pope II he contemplated a prior ad
dress to the Methodlsts Of Rome. This
was the Fairbanks incident" tina
Monsignor Kennedy referred to.
Roosevelt contemplated no such ad
dress, but he sent word 10 Ambassa'
dor Leishman that he would not sub
nit to any stipulations regarding hi
movements while in Rome. He did no
finally cancel the negotiations, how
ever. when a subsequent message from
I.eishman. also received at Cairo, stat
ed that the audience with the Pop
could not take place except on tn
J conditions expressed in the forme
message.
That Roosevelt did not like the ton
OF the Vaticans communication wa
! indicated by the brevity OF his secon'
/ dispatch to Ambassador Leishmar
r Proposed presentation is. of course
I now impossible" he wired from Cair
under date Of March %
The affair, conceded to be regret
able by the Catholics. apparentl!
made no difference in King Victor
, attitude, for he received Roosevelt a
the palace this morning with unusua
warmth
Z Warm Greeting by King Victor.
: The audience granted by King Nicto
e. to Colonel Roosevelt and Kermit laste
q two hours. being one OF the longest audi
q ences ever granted by the King TO an
G one except on political OCCASIONS. Col
p onel Roosevelt and his son drove fror
= the Hotel Beouside in an automobile a
/, $50 o'clock and It was 1i.S0 o'clock whe
I they emerged from the palace.
The nature Of the conversation was nc
divuIgeia. but 81 Is beaeved that th'
length OF the interview was part OF tn
. Kings desire to hear Roosevelts side Z
! the controversy with the Vatican.
They are a most interesting pair.
the King remarked after the departure {
his guests. / have always looked upo
Mr.. Roosevelt as one Of the greatest me
IN the world and to-day's meeting wit
r him has only strengthened this imprei
son."
The King was just as reticent as Roos'
3 velt as to the details Of his interview
J. Leaving the palace Col Roosevelt wa
driven to the Pantheon. where he pla'
ed wreaths on the tombs OF formr KinE
E. Emmanuel. Victor and Humbert.
II A great crowd gathered near II
pantheon and pressed about Mr.. Rooseve
and his escort, the rain having no appa