The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1919-08-02

lrTl HE PUBLIC DOES not yet know how
HI much the pope meddled secretly In the
|VISeI peace conference at Versailles. The
LIZ locked doors behind which the treaties
and the league of nations covenant took shape
were doubtless intended to keep that kind of
information hidden. The press was censored
and the cables taken over by the government for
the same purpose.
Under such conditions were 4O,000000 help
less Chinese with their homes sold and delivered
to the Japanese empire as the price Of its sup
port to the league. In like manner was the
British empire given six votes to our one in the
assembly to obtain its reluctant consent to join
the league. So was the pope given the secretary
general of the superstate for his support and
that of his vast ecclesiastical empire. At such
wanton sacrifices of liberty and justice was the
favor of surviving empires secretly bought.
! Meantime the pope was not idle. He is never
idle when politicians covertly bargain and sell
the destinies of mankind. In every secret in
trigue he is the best asset and the most potent
factor. With the Teutonic and Turkish autOc-
racies destroyed by democratic valOr, he must
have a new imperial ally in order to perpetuate
his own autOcratic sway. He has stated that
the president convinced him at their secret inter-
view that the league Of nations would meet his
requirments.. He therefore hungered for the
flesh pots at Versailles.
In the light of such conditions, repeated viss
its of Right Rev. Mgr. BOnaventura Cerretti, pa
pal under secretary Of state, to Paris and Yer
sailles during the peace conference take on ad-
ditiOnal significance. The number of those visits
is unknown to the public Only with grudging
reluctance was the press permitted to mention
them. But the under secretary and favOrite
diplomat of the pope made at least two and
!, probably three such visits and possibly more.
Shortly before the conference assembled, the
press announced his first known visit and secret
audience with President Wilson. A few days
later the president obtained similar audience
with the pope himself, the substance Of which
has been studiously concealed from the Ameri-
can people, After his first visit to the peace
conference, Cerretti proceeded to Ireland to
counsel with the Roman Catholic Sim Fein
traitors and doubtless to reward their treason
with papal encouragement and with the "apoS-
tolic blessing" of the Holy See.
Though information touching the subject
matter of that interview of the president with
CerTeth has been concealed as successfully as
that Of his interview with the pope, it is reason
ably certain that the papal diplomat did not
t come to France for his health. Had he done so,
there would be nothing to censor or conceal.
What message did he then secretly bring to the
president? What answer did he return to his
reigning sovereign pontif? America does not
know. Following his visit to the Sim Fein
traitors he came to Baltimore to see Cardinal
Gibbons. What message, if any, did he return
4 from the enthrOned Baltimore prelate to Ver-
e sailles or to Rome? The public does not know.
| But the pope again sent Cerretti to Versailles
? after the peace treaty became known to the vat
ican, though apparently before it was known to
, the United States senate-certainly before it
! was officially SO known. Though the daily press
has studiOusly treated this last visit with Gus
tOmary reticence, ''The Baltimore Catholic Re-
t view," diocesan organ of Cardinal Gibbons, on
:. June Il cautiously turned slender ray Of light
/ on the subject, showing that the purpose was
to modify the treaty in order to conform to we'll
known papa ambitions. The Baltimore paper
9 makes the following statement:
e Rome, June 12th.--An authoritative edi-