Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-26
BERNARD SHAW COMMENTS
ON INTERVIEW WITH POPE
Makes Written Replies to Series of
Questions Asked Him by
Newspaper Man.
APPROVES GENERAL VIEWS
Could Hardly Be Expected to Accept
American and British Belief That
Saloon Passengers Have More VAL
liable Souls Than Common Soldiers.

Saloon Passengers Have More VAL
liable Souls Than Common Soldiers.
Especial Cable to The Times -Dispatch.l
LONDON, June 25.-The interview
which the Pope gave to Louis Latapie
has created a tremendous sensation.
Many public mon have commented on
1t. but It has been left to George Bern
ard Shaw. in his usual outspoken man
ner. to declare what n great many peo-
pie here think privately.
Mr.. Shaw. who was strenuous in his
objection to being misquoted or mis-
interpreted. especially on important
The interview take the form of n scries
OF written questions. TO which he wrote
replies. They are:
Q.-"What il your opinion of the
yeneral expression attributed to the
'ope in his interview granted TO Louis
i-atapie?"
A.---"Why. that a gentleman could
nave said no less
Q.-"Do you agree with the pope's
views that all the belligerent nations
have committed crimes
A.--"Of course. | do. What do you
take me fory'
o.-"what would you have told the
interviewer had YOU been the Pope
A.-"To get out. perhaps
Q.-"Do you think the Pope's de-
tense against the charge of not having
spoken out strongly enough on the war
VAS satisfactory when he said: i pro-
posed truce between the belligerents
during Christmas. have endeayorcd
TO obtain an exchange of disabled
prisoners with appreciable results.
nave expressed all my pain and anec-
'!nn In letters TO Cardinals Lucon and
Annette. which were intended for
France. which was so cruelty afnicted
IN the consistory on January 90 said:
VIC regret that we arc unable TO do
more 10 hasten the end OF this scourze,
nut our apostolic charge does not al
10" US. We reprovc all injustice on
Whatever side committed. but il would
DE neither hitting. nor helpful to en-
gage our pontificai authority in the
actual disputes OF the bei!igcrents'
A-The Pope made IL quite clear
mat he was pro-German. What more
could he do as n papal politician. and
what other side could he have taken
IN that capacity? Austria and South
Germany are Catholic: Rus ia is Greek:
England is Protestant, while France
is violently anticlerical 1t is true
that his choice between Malone, and
Martin Luther may have been bit
trHinG-but the Turks are entitled TO
the benefit OF invinciblc ignorance.
and a heather always has been dearcr
to-Rome than hereto
C.-"Do you think the Pope's state
mont regarding the sinking OF the
husitania ono that commends itself TO
the ethical ideas OF tho masses
refer 10 this statement: 1 know Of no
moro friShtful crime. How distressing
10 sec our generation "a prey TO such
horrors. ] have Il fathers heart. and
my heart is torn. But do YOU think
blockade which hens in two empires
ard condemns millions OF innocen,s to
famine is prompted by very humane
sentments?"
At is not the business of the
rope TO commend himself to the ethical
IDEAS OF the masses. II is his bust
ness TO give ethical ideas TO The
masses and To forbid them TO dare 10
presume to look to their own private
Judgment for the very essentials of
their souls salvation. and certainly the
ethical outlook that hnds romantic
excitement in the slaughter of thous-
ands OF young soldiers at Neuve Chan
ellie and Aubers by most internally
cruel methods. and then bursts into
screams OF horror and vindictiye fury
because ship full Of civilians has
been surprised by an easy death. seems
badlE in need OF the sterncst panal
rebuke for its callous selfishness. The
Pope can hardly be expected to repre
sent 'od as sharing the general Amer
lean and British belief that saloon
passengers have more valuable souls
than common soldiers. because they
have heavier bank balances"
Q.-"Are you of the opinion. consid-
er'hS the influence the Pope exercises
over the Roman Catholic portion of
mankind that he, should al once con-
denln the crimes OF war instead of saw
ing. ! DO not say that after the war
shall not proclaim a syllabus recall
ing ana summing UP the doctrines OF
inc church on this subject and regu-
Eating FOR the future the rights and
duties OF belligerents'? In that there
Doubtless will be found formal con
domination Of the crimes committed
during the war"
A.-"The Pope's clear duty last An
gust was to eXcommunicatc all COM
batants with bell. book and candle
and tell them with a voice laundering
through Christendom that they would
all most certainly be damned for The
sin OF Cain, unless they laid down tbeir
arms and submitted their dispute IN
the judgment of God through Hi.
church."