Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-04-04
EXPECTED TO CREATE
A TREMENDOUS STIR
Negotiations Were in Reality Between
Roosevelt and PapaI State Secretary.

Rome March 3.-The failure to ar
range an audience between ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the pope, which
was known only in certain circles, to-
night, is expected to Great tremen-
dous stir here as well as abroad, far
overshadowing the Importance of the
incident in which ex-Vice President
Fairbanks was a principal. Although
the negotiations were technically be-
t3een Ambassa dor Leish1nan and
Monsignor Kennedy. it is well under
nedy was acting under the instruc-
tions of Cardinal Merry del Val The
telegraphs, therefore, were in reality
between ex-President Roosevelt and
the pa pal secretary of state.
Surprise at Vatican.
When the correspondent called at
the Vatican this evening, great sur
prise was expressed when it was
learned that Mr.. Roosevelt had given
out the text of the messages eXchang-
ed by Mgr. KENNEDY and the American
ambassador, as they were regarded by
the Vatican in the light of diplomatic
documents.
Mgr. Kennedy Explains.
Mgr. Kennedy explained that March
p, John w. Garrett, first secretary Of
the emba ssy called upon him to
transmit Mr.. Roosevelt's request for
an audience with the pontiff on April
8 He said that Mr. Garrett insisted
Kennedy informed the secretary that
he would Immediately present the re-
quest to the proper Vatican authori-
ties, and promised a response as soon
as possible.
1.-The following day" said ar-r. Ken
nedy. Il was authorized to send Mr..
Roosevelt the first message, which is
quoted in his statement The refer
ence to the Fairbanks incident in the
message was intended by the Vatican
a int
ticed that my second message is not
fully given. 1t ran thus: His holi-
ness will be much pleased to grant
an audience to Mr.. Roosevelt for
personally and as president Of the
United States. His holiness quite rec
ognizes Mr.. Rooseyelt's entire right
to freedom of conduct. On the other
hand, in view of the circumstances for
which neither his holiness nor Mr..
Roosevelt is responsible, an audience
could not occur except on the under
standing expressed in the former mes
sage
AFTER this, no further communica-
ton reached me from Mr.. Roosevelt"
What Happened at Interview with
Cardinal Merry dol Val.
It further appears that it was John
Callan O'Laughlin who was assistant
secretary Of state in 1909, and a great
personal friend of Mr.. Roosevelt's, who
-
dina1 Merry del Val. The following
semi official version of what happened
at the interview has been furnished to
the Associated Press by a Vatican au-
thority.
Cardinal Merry del Val said to Mr.
OLaughnn: Can you guarantee that
Mr.. Roosevelt will not visit the Meth
odists here?'
Mr.. O'Laughlin replied: SCI cannot
Indeed, I believe that Mr.. Roosevelt
is just the man to go there. He will
do as he pleases.
TT is indefensib1e," said the papal
secretary. for any person to ask to
be received by great parsonage
whose feelings he would be unwilling
Cardinal Merry del Val remarked:
"It is not in any sense a question of
religion. Mr.. Roosevelt might have
gone to an Episcopa1ian, a Presbyter-
Methodist and delivered an address
there and he would have been re-
ceived by the pope even on the same
day. But he could not be received
when 1t was suspected that after the
audience he intended to go to the
Methodist church in Rome, which is
carrying on most offensive campaign
of caluTnny and detraction against
the pontiff-"
The papaI secretary even recognized
Mr.. Roosevelt's right to claim the priv
ilege of visiting the Methodists the
that he. Merry del Val. had received
private assurances that he would not
actually do SO.
The Vatican emphasizes the state
nlent that 1t did not receive from the
American embassy any notification of
Mr. Rooseve1t'sf final message that an
audience had become impossible.