The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-06-23

peace among men. A Pope can want
and preach only peace and, further
more, because we are in Italy, and
we wanted to have this country,
which we love, saved the suffering
of war;"
There was suggestion of tears in
the eyes of the pontiff as he said
this.
The interviewer then mentioned
the effect OF the war on the Holy See
whether the Pope was free and
whether. under the law of guarantees
his Holiness could exercise freely
and completely his mission in this
world s
add interview with Pope
The Pope replied that there was no
need of concealing that the interests
of the Holy See had been considered.
and added:
"The state of war puts these inter-
ests i'll danger. We are at the present
time in an uncertain situation.
must recognize that the Italian gov
eminent is giving us some proofs
of its good intentions. Our relations
are improved, but conditions are as
yet not to our entire satisfaction.
For example, could they not let me
keep my guards intact | need a
guarantee of the material security of
my person and of the artistic treas
ures which surround me. They took
twenty OF my guards, several officers
and others whom ] cannot readily re-
place The noble guards were mobil-
lied, but that amounted to very little
besides the grave inconvenience of
not being able to communicate with
my faithful.
THE government offered the free
use of cipher to the representatives
Of the powers accredited to us. yet
under the control and responsibility
OF the Holy See, that was too danger
Gus. We might have been accused
of indiscretions touching military
matters. ] refused this offer.
Il was promised freedom OF cores
pondence, uncontrolled by the censor.
but my Secretary of State brought
me this morning letter from the
Patriarch of Venice with the seals
broken. At the Tribunal of Penit-
ence, which deals only with private
affairs concerning the faithful, who
submit to us cases of individual con-
science several letters have been re-
ceived opened.
I've no longer receive anything
save the sound OF the bell Reports |
with nations enemy DO Italy are sup
pressed. The representatives accred |
tied to us have had TO leave Rome |
Our guarantees and our means are
thus much weakened We have faith |
in the present government but we
tremble to see ourselves exposed to |
the uncertainties of public life in It
ally. ~ feHp ns
ferment Would you say 1t was alb
surd in these last days 10 fear day |
of revolution. What will tomorrow
bring? How would ethe people re-
ceive defeat? How would they be-
have imNictory2 80
Every movement of this people,
the most iGnpressionable in the world |
has its inhex here. And we feel |
ourselves less protected today
do you now understand why we |
opposed with all our force the rupt-
ure of Italian neutrality" n
The Pope closed his eyes and seem
ed to dream for an instant. Then he
said in deep tones 1.-THE future is
dark i aae
Does your holiness expect to take |
any initiative to promote peace?' he
was asked
To this the Pope replied: THE |
hour does not seem to me to have |
come. should not act save with the |
fullest knowledge, lest weaken the |
moral authority which hold of God |
and which | must employ to bring
peace again among men. But | shall |
seek the opportunity; | shall seize |
the first hand outstretched'