The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-08-17
throughout the entire empire the
deepest admiration for his work.
Austria-Hungary Replies.

ton: but on December 70 anOLner
was received, which read partly as
follows:
This foreign office awaits a reply
from the government. 1t believes
there will be no difficulty, and is will
ing to do everything possible to have
the noble undertaking of the Holy See
issue successfully. The decision of
the government will be Immediately
communicated to the Secretary of
State"
His Eminence, Cardinal Berchtold,
on January l, 1915, sent the follow
ing communication to the Secretary
of State, through the ambassador
from Austria-Hungary:
1--WE hail with JOY and gratitude the
undertaking, inspired by a deep feel
ing of love for felloWman, of His Holi
ness to have exchanged the prisoners
of war unable for military service.
idea, and as soon as we shall have re-
ceived the official proposals of the
Holy See, we shall place ourselves in
relation with the enemy belligerent
governments, in order to put in force
it's practical execution"
Negotiations were carried on with
England, through Cardinal Gasquet.
1t was found that exactly ten days
before the British ambassador to the
Quirinal, Sir Rennell Rood, received
the communication of His Eminence,
Cardinal Gasquet-namely, December
u, 1914-the British government had
proposed to Germany an exchange
of disabled and incapacitated prison
ers of war, but no reply had yet
come. In the meantime, England was
fully in accord with the benevolent
proposal OF the Holy See.
The Serbian government was
sounded through l.. Michailovitch,
minister of Serbia to Cetigne, and by
letter dated December "A, 1914, the
Cardinal Secretary of State was as
sured that the royal Serbian govern
ment had received most favorably
the proposal of the Holy See, and
awaited only the reply of its allies.
On the very same day-Christmas
eve-favorable news came from Tur-
key, through Mgr. Dolci, Apostolic
Delegate to Constantinople, who con-
ferred with the heads of the govern
ment Immediately upon receipt of
the despatch from the Cardinal Sec
retary of State. Admiration was eX-
pressed for the Holy Father in his
efforts to bring about an armistice
at Christmas, and mention was made
of the kindly feelings towards His
Holiness, aroused by his endeavors,
throughout the Ottoman empire.
Final decision was left to the mill
tary authority.
Germany.
All intercourse with Germany in
this connection had a happy issue;
and, on December 20, 1914, a des-
patch was sent by the Secretary of
State of the Prussian government, in
which the Holy Father thanked the
emperor for the kind acceptance of
his proposal regarding the prisoners
of war.
France at first appeared to frown
upon the plans of the Pope. Through
a high French ecclesiastical prelate,
communication was established with
President Poincare on December 27,
1914. An unfavorable reply reached
the Vatican-two reasons for which
ncSn n1.
the other, military. The first was
that Switzerland had made similar
proposals to France short time
previously, and had been refused
The second reason, because 1T was
believed that Germany was willing to
consent to the exchange as she was
! more deficient of officials than France
and by this means she could fill in
| the gaps. The matter rested thus fOI
while, though some of the higher
officials were favorably disposed.
BY the end of December, 1914, the
| preliminary negotiations had been
completed. England, Germany, Serbia
and Turkey had welcomed the pro
| pOooIo, AuOCl bC1SAull1, II was
felt, would also receive them favor
ably; France and Russia alone held
off. On December 20, 1914, the Holy
Father thanked the British govern
ment for the willingness to accede tt
his request, and besought it to seel
for, and even insist upon, a favorable
and prompt reply also from France
and Russia.
Now assured of the will of the ma
tions, Pope Benedict commenced OF
fetal negotiations with them; and
on December 81, 1914, His Holmes
sent to their majesties, the sovereign
of Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Gel
many, England, Russia and Serbia
each the following telegram:
Trusting in the sentiments @
Christian charity with which you
majesty is animated, we beseech yo
to have the good will to close thi
present year we'll, and to inaugural
the new one by an act of suprem
generosity, accepting our propose
that the belligerent nations exchang
, the prisoners rendered for the futur
unfit for military service.
Benedict XIV, Pope"
A telegram also was sent to MI