New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-04
ROOSEVELT WILL
NOT SEE POPE
Refuses to Subscribe to the
Conditions Imposed by
the Vatican.
MESSAGES MADE PUBLIC.
Ex- President Issues Statement
Asking That Incident Be
Regarded as Purely .
Personal.

Rome. April 3-The audience which IL
was believed ex-President Roosevelt
would have with the Pope on Tuesday
next will not be held owing to condi-
tions which the Vatican has imposed
and which Mr. Roosevelt refuses to ac-
cept
Although the definite negotiations rel
ative TO the audience ended before Mr.
Roosevelt left Egypt. the announcement
.Vas withheld until after Mr. Roosevelt
reached Rome tonight. at the solicita-
ton Of his American Catholic friends
here, who believed that in the mean
time the Vatican might change its atti-
tude. one Of the former Presidents
American friends who had been with
him in Egypt. came TO Rome yesterday.
without, however. any authorization
from Mr. Roosevelt. and attempted 10
induce Cardinal Merry del Val the Pspsl
Secretary. TO avoid a situation which. as
it now stands. has caused a real senss-
ton in Rome. although il was not en-
tireIy unexpected. His efforts. however.
were unavailing
While at Gondokoro. i'm February last
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote 90 Ambassador
Leishman saying that he would be glad
To have the honor Of an audience with
King Victor Emmanuel and the Pope.
The audience with the King was prompt
ly arranged. Before an arrangements
could be reached regarding an audience
with the Pope several kilograms were
exchanged. and the negotiations we're
ended by Mr. Roosevelt refusing in any
way 10 be limited as to his conduct and
announcing that an audience with the
Pope. under the circumstances. was i'm
possible.
Only Two engagements Made in Rouns.
As matter of fact. Mr. Roosevelt.
while declining to accept any. conditions
i'm connection with his audience with the
Pope. had neither directly nor indirectly.
before. during o~ after the negotis'ious,
made or considered any engs gemeuts in
Rome except those Of an official char
actar. and he entered Rome tonight
with only two definite engag agerlents-
the audience with the King and the din
ner to be given i1 his honor b. the
municipautv
The history Of the negotiations is
about as follows.
While a cairo Mr.. Roosevelt received
the following telegram from Ambassador
Letshman. dated March 23.
'1Ionsi gnor Kennedy. rector OF the
American Catholic College. in reply 20
an inquiry which Z caused 70 be made.
requests that the following comntunics-
ton be transmitted 70 YOU. The Holy
Father win be delighted % grant an
audience 70 AR Roosevelt on April ).
and hopes that nothing win arise 20 pre-
vent il. such as the much regretted in
cident which made the reception Of 3Ir.
Fairbanks impossible
Replying by cable to Aulbsssador
Leishman on March -, Mr.. Roosevelt
said.
Please present the following 70 Mon
signor kennedy. Tt would ne real
pleasure 10 me to be presented 20 the
HOLY Father for whom 7 entertain high
respect. both personally and as the head
oC a great Church. I fully recognize his
entire right 10 receive or not receivs
vvhomsoever he chooses. for any reason
that seems good to him. and if he does
not receive me 7 shall not for q moment
question the propriety of his action. en-
the other hand. 7. in my turn. must de
cline 20 make any stipulatiOns or submit
20 any conditions which IN any way
would limit my freedom Of conduct I
trust that on April = ne viii hnd it con-
venient To receive me"
on March - Mr.. Roosevelt. who was
then stHG AT cairo. received a dispatch
from Ambassador I.ejshmau giving a
message from Nousiguor Kennedy.
which concluded by saying. The audi
euce cannot take place except on tbe
understanding expressed in the former
message"
Definite Refusal Of Audiences.
The following day Mr.. Roosevelt sent
another message To- the American Am
bassador. saying. The proposed pres
entation is ut course. now impossible"
Mr. Roosevelt particularly desires that
tho incident shall h" regarded by his
friends. botn catholic and Protestant. in
America as personal. and that IL shall
rot give rise to an acrimonious coutrO-
versv. With this end i'm view he sent a
cable message to-day To the Rev. Lyman
Abbott. editor of -'rhe outlook" at New
York saying
..Through The outlook I wish 20 make
"A statement to my fellow Americans re-
garding what has occurred i'm connection
with the Vatican. I am sure that the
great majority of my fellow citizens.
catholics quite as much as PrOtestants.
will feel that I acted in the only way
possible for an American &C. act. and be-
cause of this very fact I most earnestly
hone that the incident will be treated in
"a rrstter-of- course way as merely per-
souat. and. above ALL as not warrantipg
the slightest exhibition Of rancor or Bit
terpess Among my best and closest
friends are many Catholics. The respect
and regard Of those " my fellow Ameri-
cans who are Catholics are as dear TO
me as the respect and regard Of those