The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-15
Won Wiegand Thinks Benedict
Knows Pulse of World.
Says POntiff Is Keen Diplomat
and a Statesman.
|CRY OF HUMANITY HIS SPUR
He's Better Informed Than
World Capital ChanceIIOries.
Fears U. $. viii Not Recognize
Psychological Moment.
BY CARL H. Won WIEGAND.

New York. Aug. 15-"But will
america recognize the psychological
moment for peace when it comes?"
With a very marked rising inflec-
ton in his voice. which Enthusiastically
denoted that the pope had some
doubts, this is the question which his
holiness. Benedict XIV propounded to
me in my audience with him in the
Vatican on Easter Monday in 1915
1t was upon the occasion of the first
peace move in the world war. Pope
Benedict's message which he asked
me to convey TO the American people,
Ito pray and work INCREASINGLY for
peace" will be recalled by the pope's
snow formal proposals to belligerents
nnd neutrals alike.
Pope BenedictS formal action con-
firms the doubts about America TAX
'ing the initiative to end the terrible
world slaughter, which he openly ex-
pressed to me on that Easter Monday.
Over two years he waited in vain for
the answer for which 1 hope and
pray from the great American people
for the sake of humanity. The whole
world places its hopes upon America"
he declared.
The answer, for which his holiness
reiterated he prayed day and night"
sdid not come. Instead there came to
pass what he feared-what the keen
Intuition and spiritual eyes of the pale
ascetic head of the Catholic church
5sensed and foreshadowed as expected
in his words to me, IF America does
nothing that will tend to prolong the
war
Pope Feared the Worst.
But America has entered the war.
Benedict XIV feared that very eventu-
ality. As far back as April, 1915, his
holiness was troubled lest events drag
the United States into the war, there
BY prolonging it if peace did not
come. He spoke to me of that posi-
NIau
exhaustion put an end to it.
The pope's present action is in line
and keeping with his eXpres-ed in
tentions at that time. Undoubtedly
urged on by the cry of humanity
as he charac terized it two years ago,
and despairing of the head of any
country having the courage or being
In position to do so. the pope has
taken the initiative into his own hands.
In this he undoubtedly expresses the
wish and the yearning of millions
Protestants as well as Catholicism
the world, neutrals and beIligerents
Benedict XIV is not merely a pious
priest like Pope Plus was. He is a
statesman and a diplomat. Of the
many whom l have met in this war,
Benedict XIV is one of the keenest
and deepest. Thru the wide ramifica-
tons of the Catholic church he is bet
ter informed than the majority of
chancellories in the world capitals. l
is not of church or religion
In the pope's efforts in 1915 to have
President Wilson take the initiative
for peace, he was strongly supported
by the then president of Argentina.
This spring after President Wilson
had stepped out as peace initiator'
the pope, l was informed upon good
authority, turned to King Alfonso of
Spain to cooperate with him in a
Joint peace proposal. Alfonso was
much favored in Vienna Political
conditions in Spain, however, made it
necessary for Alfonso to announce
that he could not join tie pope in
approaching the belligerents, tho he
was in hearty sympathy.
Pope Well Advised.
That the pope did not taAe the pres
ent weighty step without being adj
vised by his representatives in the
belligerent countries on b Jrh sides in
E Europe as to the conditions of the
peoples in these countries their suf-
the appalling winter that confronts
both belligerents and neu.rals alike
can hardly be doubted.
M In connection with the pope's pro-
4 posal for the fighting nations to stop
\ and consider the question oe world
Il peace it is noteworthy tha> the Cath
F Ollie people in Germany and Austria
n began an organized movement favor
Y ing peace in April of this year. This
e was followed some weeks later quiet
n " by a similar movement. among the
4 protestants in Sweden. According to
my information from Switzerland lust
before 1 sailed, for the reliability for
which 1 cannot vouch, considerable