Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-06-29
VATICAN DEGREES
WAR INTERVIEW
Charges FaIsity and Invention
of Grave Assertions by
Louis Latapie.
PONTIFF'S REMARKS
CONFUSED, is CHARGE
Pope Makes Thoughts Clear to Min
imize Disastrous Impression
Created by Article.

published in the Corriere dItalia yes
| terday morning with Cardinal Pietro
Giasparri. the papal secretary of state,
has aroused great interest in Rome, as
| 1t is entirely taken up with the inter
view obtained last week by Louis La
tapie, a member of the staff of the
Paris La Liberte, with Pope Benedict.
The secretary of state says:
M. Latapie invented entirely many
grave assertions. You must remember
| that phrase Isolated from the con-
text cannot reproduce faithfully
thought. or what is worse, it gives
| 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 which, according to NJ. Latapie, was
covered in the allocution of Janu-
airy %.
Question as to Jews.
with regard to the Jews, it was in
March that Austria Hungary sent
protest to the holy see. The protest
was not mentioned. as the Vatican
could not condemn Russia on the sole
affirmation of Austria Hungary.
The Pope was informed that Italy
mad taken some parish priests of the
towns occupied as hostages, but the
Blshop OF Cremona informed him that
they were being treated with every re-
gard. indeed, the pontiff furnishes
| them with funds for masses. The Pope
knows all this perfectly. How, then,
could he put them in a category with
| the Belgian and French hostages or
with the Jews of Russia
Letter Never Received.
! with regard to Gen. Won Kissing. the
German governor of Belgium, neither
the holy father nor the secretary of
state ever received a letter or a COM
| munication from him directly or in
directly. Thus the Pope could not
refer TO such letter and he did not
The letter was born of the fervid i'm
| agination of NJ. Latapie'
Cardinal Gasparri denied that Pope
Benedict said. Il twas under the pom
tificate of Plus X when asked by NJ.
Latapie if it was necessary to inquire
whether the neutrality of Belgium had
been violated, but the secretary of
state does not say what words the
pontiH used.
Graver Confusion.
| NJ. Latapie when he speaks Of the rela-
| continues Cardinal Gasparri. The fol-
lowing is the real opinion of the pom
tiR:
TT is true he wished Italy to remain
outside the conflict upon receiving con-
cessfons from Austria, because he de-
sired that Italy should not suffer the
horrors of war, and he was preoccu-
pied with the delicate position of the
church if Italy entered the conflict.
War once declared, the church became
entirely neutral. 1t has not in any way
tried to prevent Catholics from doing
their duty according to their con-
science. and it has done everything for
the spiritual welfare of the soldiers.
Recognizes Italy's Stand.
The pontiff recognizes that the Ital-
ian government has done everything
possible to alternate any difficulties
that might arise between 1t and the
holy see. The Vatican's correspondence
is not being touched. But that does not
mean that the situation of the holy see
IS normal. 1t does not intend to create
embarrassment for the government.
THE holy father much dep!ored the
| sinking of the Lusitania, but he could
not pronounce directly on 1t because
there was before him a question of fact
regarding which each SIDE MAKES an
ferent assertions.
Cardinal GasparH ended the inter-
view by saying:
Last Writer to Be Received.
with regard to what concerns me
personally I saw NJ. Latapie only few
minutes In that time the diplomatic
relations between the holy see and
France were not mentioned. NJ Latapie
would have done better had he main
tanned the promise he formally gave
me not to publish anything without
previous authorization. But as that
formal promise was not sufhcient TO
| nreserye the holy see from such de-
pIorable indiscretions NJ. Latapie viii
have the honor of being the last jour
nalist to be received by the holy father
| during the war.
Felt Word Necessary.
The Messagero. in an article apropos
Of the interview with Cardinay Gasparri.
az n,,A,,ished by the Corriere D'Talia, says
that the impression produced i'm Italy and
| abroad by the interview credited to the
Pope by La Liberties representative had
unexpected results in the Vatican. The
Nessa zero states that innumerable mes
ga ses have come to the Pope from cardi-
mails bishops and the prmates Of England
and Belgium Cardinal MERCER, primate
Of Belgium; Cardinal Annette, archbishop
of Paris and the others who have sent
4 ,;,natcbaa continues the paper .sk