Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-07
VATICAN STILL WORKING
IN INTEREST OF PEACE
Pope Never Has Dismissed Idea OF
Being Instrumental in
Ending Conflict.
ONCE SEEMED SUCCESSFUL
Kaiser Gives Him Carte Blanche to
Negotiate Terms With Allies;
Then Comes Russian Revolution,
and Events Following Are Untold.

ROME. April cs (by mai.)-The
hitherto mysterious reason that led
the Pope to call n consistory In which 4
no new cardinals were appointed and
ho church business OF Importance worth
mentioning was transacted, was ex-s}
Iiained to-day by a prelate who is
also n well-known figure in the fres-
coed halls OF the Vatican state Cham
| Gerry
The truth is the prelate said" that
Ecnedict Nv has never dismissed tho
| idea OF being instrumental In bringing
about a cessation OF the European con-
| iiict.
After the facts and attitude of the
Vatican towards both groups OF boil
ligerents Quashed the charge of pro-
cermansm preferred against the
Pontin. he resumed the work In favor
of peace and has remained constantly
IL touch with the Holy Sec diplomats
when the inside history Of the pres
cnt war will be published for the Bone
ct Of the populations which furnished
tho gold and the blood with which 1t
has been fought out. the figure of tho
Roman Pontiff will stand out as that of
the only ruler who. since his election.
tas steadily worked for the rcstora-
| lion of peace and has never refused to
interpose his good Offices to alleviate
the suffering Of the victims of the
war.
ACTIVITY OF VATICAN
INTERESTING CHAPTER
The chapter OF this wars history,15
Which in my opinion will prove tho
most important and the most Interest,"
ing. will he that regarding the Popc'ss
activity during the period OF time
from the day the central powers made
T. eli peace offer TO that in which the
Russian revolution broke out. AS has
been suspected. the Pope spared no Ell
'Ort to induce the Kaiser to state the
terms on which he was willing to ac-
rept peace. The first effort was rend-
cred entirely futile by the entente's att
titude which the Pope had also work.
ed TO avoid by suggesting a concflia-
! toTy reply. England. however. re-
NAMED obduratc. Cardinal Bourne; of
Westminster, who acted as confiden-
tia: agent OF the Popc. failing to per-
suade Lloyd Georges government to
| accept Germany's proffer. IL
his negotiations with Germany. this
time with the cooperation of Emperor
Charles OF Austria. He was entirely
successful To prove his good faith,
the Kaiser not only gave to the Pope
the minimum terms on which no was
| willing to conclude an honorable ard
| lasting peace. but went even further.
lie informed the Pope that. as far as
Germany was concerned. he could act,
even as mediator, and that, IN this
case. and If the enemies OF Germany
consented TO accept this mediation
Germany and her allies would give
him carte blanche. IS
Whether the entente allies refused
this offer | do not know What
know is the consiStory was called in
order to give to the Pope the oppor-S
tunity OF delivering an allocution on
peace. and the allocutlon would also
include n plea against the spring and
summer massacres.
SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO UPSET PEACE PLANS
The moment we cndeavored to dis
cover what happened during the inter-
val elapsing between Germany's accep-
lance Of the Popes mediation and
March 80. when the allocution was de-
livered. we are puzzled and can only5
guess.
"As everybody knows. the a;locution&
caused a deep disappointment. But
why did the Pope fail 10 mention the
word peace and refer TO tho gigantic
struggle now going on? According to-
a report. the Russian revolution is, in
Il way, responsible for the continuances
OF the conflict. Some say that after
the deposition OF the Gear. Germany
asked the Pontim to wait for develops
ments. Others say that Germany with
drew the mandate given to the Pontiff.,
do not know whether either of these
two versions is true. but what know
is that at one time the Pope had carte
blanche to negotiate peace for Ger
nj