Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23


only reproach one could make to me is
that / have been too reserved.
The chamber listened in absolute
silence while NJ Caillaux reviewed his
various relationships which have been
regarded by his accusers as suspicious
He denied having sent Bolo Pacha
abroad or that he had anything to dc
with Bolo's seeking of funds in the
United States to buy the Journal
NJ. Caillaux concluded by asking the
chamber of deputies to withdraw his par
liamentary immunity in order that he
might have justice concerning all the
''calumnies" to which he objected.
The former premier had spoken two
hours when the chamber recessed until
the afternoon.
Hostility to U. S. Voiced.
The secret report sent last February
from the French embassy at Rome to the
foreign office, in which IL. Cailiaux was
said to have expressed opinions hostile
to the United States. also contained the
assertion that the former premier had in
his possession photographs of the German
lines on the Somme front. This is one
Of the statements made at the French
embassy. according to the report by the
man referred to as NJ LIE Prestre who
asserted he had obtained access at the
American embassy in Rome to an account
of conversation between NJ Caillaux. who
was then in Rome. and two monsignori
Of the Vatican.
In this conversation NJ Caillaux was
reported TO have expressed his sentiments
respecting the United States. The account
Of this discussion was taken to the Amer
lean embassy by an Irish prelate. accord
ing to M LIE Prestre The version for
warded to the French foreign Office was
laid before the committee which inquired
into the question of suspending the inn
munity Of NJ. Caillaux.
After the account of lie Prestre's visit
to the French embassy at Rome and his
statement regarding NJ. CaillauIs hos
tility to the United States. the report
quotes NJ LIE Prestre further as fol-
lows:
THE person who placed before mo
the document taken to the American
embassy by the Irish preIate-it was
not the ambassador-was. / believe
Disguised by it. and gave me the infor-
nation in order that NJ Caillaux's con-
3 versation should come to the ears Of
representatives of the entente, The
document certainly was sent to"Wash-
tngton. 49,
my brothers have been killed at the
front In France. in the ranks of the
French army. I knew no one at the
French embassy and furthermore, al
though / wished to relieve my con-
trouble on myself. and SO confined
myself to a visit to the British ambas-
sAdor. He was fut. Then j related all
: to a mutual friend. who went to see
1.-THE British ambassador knew all of
that conversation before he left for
London a little more than a month ago.
Shows Somme Photos.
FINALLY there Is a detail which has
Its value. In order to prove that con-
finuation Of the war would result only
in butchery without a decision M Cail-
1aux in the course of his conversation
produced photographs of the German
lines Of defense on the Scmme before
and after the last offensive there. Both
those photographs showed that one
System of trenches was captured. an
other system. quite as strong and quite
~ difficult to capture. was established
= few kilometers in the rear.
Were the photographs Of German
origin or French origin? do not
know. In either case II Is equally dis
quieting because II they were OF
French origin from whom did he obtain
them? From officers?"
The report goes to say it was evident
from the conversation of NJ. lie Prestre
that he had previously confded part
at least Of what he had related TO the
Belgian military attache. Col Morei
who went to the French embassy with
him At one point he turned toward
marked TO him: But you remember.
colonel, that / told you that In order
that You might repeat 1t here" The
colonel corrected him. saying: TT was
IN i
minister.
ROME, December en- LIE Prestre
whose name has been mentioned in the
Calllaux case. is said to be an Ameri-
can The Osservatore Romano. organ
OF the Vatican. states that he is en-
tireiy unknown at the Vatican. but that
he Is man Of prominence. haEing
american banking connections m ,. and Ind
Italian war loan. The newspaper says
he is now in New York, having be-
come the head of the international
Trading Corporation
Denies BE Is the Man. ).
knowledge Of the caiiiaux disclosures
was disciaimed today by Rene La
Prestre, an American OF French de-
scent engaged in the exporting business
here with the Arm of lie Prestre. Miller
& Co. and who says he was recently
in Rome and Paris. No other man Of
the name could be located in New
York today.
The first 1 knew of the matter" h.
said. was when / read the newspaper.
today. ! am an American Of French
descent with banking interests here
and abroad aud ] have recently re-
turned from a trip to Europe. where
visited Rome and Paris, but there thu
similarity between myself and the Ia
Prestre of the dispatches ends.
MY name and that In the dispatches
you Will note. diner. although the spell
ing is the same. I had no brother,
who were killed fighting on the French
front and l am not connected with an,
organization called the Internationa
Trading Corporation. There are an,
number of lie Prestres in Rome ant
Paris"
There are two concerns called tn,
International Trading Company in thi
city. but both today denied knowledge
of a man named lie Prestre.
ROME. December 22-The Osserva
tore Romano. the Vatican organ, toda,
published a denial Of the statement o
Deputy Pirolini. in the chamber o
deputies yesterday. that Mgr. Federic,
Tedeoehini, under secretary Of state .
the Vatican, had attended . reception
at the home Of Mgr. Eugenio Pacsll
papal nuncio to Munich. Deputy PRO
1ini had declared that Mime. Caillauz
wife of Former Premier CaiIlaux o
France. was present at the reception
and that Mgr. Won Gerlach. who ha
been convicted by default as an Aus
TRAN spy. also was a guest there.
The newspaper adds that the vatfca
never has been in contact, direct or in
direct. with NJ CaillAux either undo
BITS own name or that Of "Monsieu
enouarG ---.-A.---i-..