Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-03
his Nation muHed
to Assist Vatican
in Peace Efforts
Cardinal Gibbons Calls on
President Wilson, Bear
ing Message From
Pope Benedict.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]

WASHINGTON. September Car
dinal Gibbons, dean of the College of
Cardinals. presented TO President Will
son to-day confidential communica-
tion from Pope Benedict inviting and
urging this government to cooperate
with the Vatican and neutral nations
to bring about peace In Europe.
II was a cablegram praising the
Presidents attitude, and indicating a
belief that the United States might he
in position to help in bringing the
European war 10 an end.
\ conference on the same subject
was held later at the state Depart
ment between Cardinal Gibbons and
Secretary of state Lansing.
After his visits and confidential talk
to and with the President Cardinal
Gibbons said:
II think the prospects OF peace are
Frightening"
This statement. expressing the judg-
ment of representative Of the Pope
after comforting with President Wilson,
Is regarded here as indicating that
definite results. SO far as future action
by this government and the Vatican
are concerned. are already being
achieved.
Cardinal Gibbons, the Secretary of
State and the President declined to
reveal the details of the Popes sug-
gestion. 1t was stated at the White
House. in fact. that the President
would not discuss the subject at all
Cardinal Gibbons said:
II can only tell you that conveyed
to the President n message from the
Holy Father. and that message re-
lated to the subject Of peace The
M &c hA IL
II / receive authority I shall be glad
to make 1t public. The authority must
come from Rome, and we will have to
confer about that.
EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR PEACE PROPOSALS
Il regard the settlement of the con-
troversy between the United States
and Germany as an exceptional oppor-
tunitE for peace proposals. and as hav-
ing placed the United States in n most
advantaseous position to act in this
dtrec tionss:.s tsc.:,r; ttst1fS.
my Interview with the President
was most gratifying. 1t would, of
course. be improper for me to speak
in detail regarding the conference with
the President. but I may say the con-
ference was of a very genial and happy
character. In general way, Mexico
was also discussed"
What do you think of the prospects
of peace?" Cardinal Gibbons was asked
II think they are brightening," was
the significant. though brief. reply.
The cardinal said the peace proposal
he conveyed to the President to-day has
been submitted only to the United
States. Whether the message from the
Vatican Will be submitted to other neu-
trail governments the cardinal would
not say. He plainly indicated that the
position of the United States is be-
lieved to be such that it would exert
the most powerful influence in the way
of peace negotiations. although il is
assumed here that the various neutral
nations would cooperate
EXPEDTrED BECAUSE
OF GERMAN CONCESSIONS
AT the White House and at the State
Department. and from inferences from
remarks by Cardinal Gibbons, the idea
has become general that the Popes
communication was expedited to tho
White House because OF the important
concession OF Germany, which became
known yesterday at the State Depart
ment. 1t was indicated in American
diplomatic circles. after the call OF
f.
ment, that the substance at least OF
Pope Benedict's suggestions would be
communicated to the American diplo-
matte representatives abroad.
This will not be done in the usual
diplomatic form. because the Vatican
is not recognized in the sense that
the nations of the world are recognized
as temporal powers.
1t was inferred from statements bv
Cardinal Gibbons that the, United
States is the only government so far
10 which the communication of Pope
Benedict has been made.
II was for this reason, it is under
stood, that the communicate from tho
Pope was not handed to the President
by the Archbishop Bonzano. the papoI
delegate at Washington. 1t is re-
Earded as probable that Cardinal Glib
hons was selected by the Pope for the
other reason that this prelate Is an
American citizen, and has been aggres-
sive on the lines of peace
All authorities agree in the opinio,
that the action taken by the Pope to
secure the cooperation of great ma
tion like the United States is epocb
making, because 1t Is understood to
be definite and complete and based
Zone
Benedict Of the views OF Austria and
Germany.
CERTAIN THINGS SETTLED
IN MINDS OF OFFICIALS
These things appear to be settled in
the minds of officials:
First. That Pope Benedict knew that
President Wilson has maintained the
attitude OF noninterference and would
continue to maintain that attitude
until he had before him something
definite to communicate from any one
of the belligerents to another.
Second. That Pope Benedict. know
ing this attitude OF the President,
would not now invite the attention of
the United States to a mere generaliza-
tion or piatitude OF expression to tho
effect that peace was most desirable.
Third. That the close relations, his