New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-29

MANY ASSERTIONS
In LATAPIE TALK
Secretary Accuses Paris
Journalist of False
Statements.
DENIES ITALIANS
CENSORED MAIL
DisavoWs Criticism on Treat
ment of Hostages and Com
ment on Lusitania.

Rome. June 2s.--An interview with
Cardinal Pietro Gasparri. the Papnl
Secretary of State. published in the
"Corriere dTtalia" this morning. has
aroused great interest in Rome. 1t is
entirely taken up with the interview
obtained last week by Louis Latapie.
e member Of the staff Of the Paris ia
Liberte," with Pope Benedict. The Sec
rotary of State says:
IN. Latspie invented entirely many
grave assertions. You must remember
that a phrase isolated from the context
cannot reproduce faithfully a thought
or. what is worse. it gives a meaning
entirely false.
"For instance. take the quotation re-
garding hostages in Berlin. What con-
fusion, The pontiff is made to mix
the Jews Of Galicia. the Austrian
priests Of Cremona and the Belgian
prelates. all of whieh. according TO NJ.
Latapie. was covered in the allocuuon
Of January %.
with regard to the Jews it was IN
March that Austria Hungary sent a
protest to the Holy See. The protest
was not mentioned, as the Vatican
could not condemn Russia on the sole
affirmation of Austria Hungary.
Cremona Priests Well Treated.
1.-THE Pope was informed that Italy
had taken some parish priests OF the
towns occupied as hostages. but the
Bishop of Cremona informed him that
they were being treated with every re,
gard. Indeed. the pontiff furnished
them with funds for masses. The rope
knows all this perfectly. How then
could he put them in category with
the Belgian and French hostages or
with the Jews of Russia?
with regard to General Won bisslnG'
the German Governor OF Belgium
neither the Holy Father nor the Sec
rotary Of State ever received a letter
or a communication from him directly
or indirectly. Thus the Pope could
not refer 10 such a letter. and he did
not The letter was born Of the ierVld
Imagination of NJ. Latapie.'
Cardinal Gasparri denies that Pope
Benedict said: ut was under the pom
tifcate Of Plus X when asked by NJ.
Latapie il il was necessary 10 inquire
whether the neutrality OF Belgium mad
been violated, but the Secretary does
not say what words the pontiif used,
Correspondence Not Touched.
But much grsver is the confusion
Of ". Latapie when he speaks of the
relations between the Holy See and
Italy." continues Cardinal Gasoarri
"The following is the real opinion Of
the pontiff;
at is true that ne wished Italy to
remain outside the conflict upon re-
ceiyirg concessions from Austria, be-
cause he desired that Italy should not
suffer the horrors OF war, and ne was
preoccupied with the delicate position
Of the Church if Italy entered the CON
fiict. War once declared, the Church
became entirely neutral. 1t has not in
any way tried TO prevent Cathohcs
from doing their duty according to
their consciences. and il has done
everything for the spiritual welfare of
the soldiers.
THE pontif recognizes that the ltal-
ian government has done everything
possible to alternate any difficulties
that might arise between it and the
Holy See. The Vatican's correspond
ence is not being touched. But that
does not mean that the situation OF the
Holy Sec is normal. 1t does not intend
TO create embarrassment for the gov
eminent.
VIII Ban All Journalists.
"The Holy Father much deplored the
sinking Of the Lusitania, but ne could
not pronounce directly on il because
there was before him a question Of
fact regarding which each side makes
different assertions"
Cardinal Gasparri ended by saying;
with regard TO what concerned me
personally ! saw VI. Latapie only few
minutes. In that time the Diplomatic
relations between the Holy See and
France were not mentioned. NJ. Lata-
pie would have done better had he
maintained the promise he formally
gave me not to publish anything with
out previous authorization. But as
that formal promise was not sufficient
TO preserve the Holy See from such de
plorable indscretions VI. Latapie will
have the honor Of being the last Jour
nalist TO be received by the Holy
Father during the war