Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-04
Pope Benedict Receives Mr..
Wilson in His Throne
Room.
WILL PLACE WREATHS
ON TOMBS OF KINGS
Days Program includes Luncheon
With King-Is Made Citizen
of Rome.


By the Associated Press.
ROME, January 4-President Will
son today was received at the Vatican
by Pope Benedict.
The Presidents arrival was an
nounced by the master of the chamber
to the Pope, who awaited the President
in the throne room, where two gilded
armchairs had been placed. The Presi-
dent was admitted Immediately to the
presence of the Pope, who was gowned
in white.
Procession Through Halls.
On his way to the throneroom the
President was accompanied by pro-
cession of Vatican servants. The pro
cession made its way through halls
filed with antique pictures ana pre-
ciouS tapestries.
AS the President entered the ante
chamber to the papal apartments he
was preceded by the pontif1ca1 cham
berlain. Gendarmes in immense pus-
ibys and the palatine guard and the
-
drawn up to greet him.
Program for the Day.
ROME, Friday. January 3.-Presi-
dent Wilson's program foFtomorrow
will be quite arduous. In the morn
ing he will go to the Pantheon. where
he will lay wreaths on the tombs of
King Victor Emmanuel 1 and King
Humbert. He will then go to the Ly-
ceum Academy and afterward visit
the Forum.
Mr.. Wilson viii have lunch at the
American embassy with King Victor
Emmanuel, Queen Elena. the Prince
of Udine and other dignitaries.
Later he will 60 to the Vatican,
where he will be received by Pope
Benedict He will return Immediately
to the American embassy and receive
q return visit from representatives OF
the Vatican. 49,
He will then 90 to the American
Episcopal Church and will meet rep
resentatives Of the Protestant bodies
in Rome.
In the evening before his departure.
he wilt attend T. dinner given BY
Queen Mother Margherita-
It il commented. that President VIII
son chose to accept the invitation OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church. Of
which Mrs. Wilson is a member. to
recetve the Protestant bodies therdl He
took this course in counsel with his
advisers, planning not to visit the
Methodist College. tho visit to which
by former President Roosevelt few
years ago. It is recalled. gave rise to
such extended discussion.
Made Citizen Of Rome.
ROME, Friday, January 3.-Presi-
dent Wilson became q citizen OF Rome
tonight The ceremony took place In
the historic capitol. designed by Michel
angelo, and redoient with suggestions
Of ancient and medieval Rome. AS
sisting In the services were King
Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helena,
members Of the italian cabinet and
members Of the diplomatic corps. in
cluding Ambassador and Mrs. Thomas
Nelson Page and municipal and mill
tary authorities.
MI. and Mrs. Wilson. accompanied
by the king and queen, drove to the
capitol after the dinner at the Quiri-
nal. At the conclusion OF the core
mony. IN which he became . ctttxen
of Rome, Mr. Wilson spoke as fol-
. lows.
aYou Do He Great Honor"
-Xsu have done me . very sreat
SnSr fsfhans fse1ins yon is fol san citf.en
Of one Of the newest of tho great
nations to be made citizen OF
this ancient city.
1T is a distinction which I am
sure you are comforting upon me
people for whom speak. One
who has been a student of history
cannot accept an honor Of the
sort without having his memory
run back to the extraordinary Sc
ries Of events which have CEN
tered IN this place.
Impressed by Contrast.
-But as I have thought today,
have been impressed by the con-
trast between the temporary and
permanent things. Many political
changes have centered about
Rome. from the time when from
tress Of a great empire. Change
after change has swept away many
things, altering the very form of
her affairs. but the thing that
has remained permanent has been
the spirit of Rome and the Italian
people. That spirit seems to have
caught with each age the charac-
terfStic purpose of the age.
This imperial people now gladly
represents the freedom of nations
iniS people, which, at one time,
seemed to conceive the purpose of
governing the world, now takes
part in the liberal enterprise of
Offering the world its own gov
ernment Can there be a finer or
more impressive illustration of
indestructible human spirit and
of the unconquerable spirit OF lib
crty?
Reflects on Colossal Blunder.o
Il have been rejecting in these
recent days about a colossal blum
Ger which has been made-the
blunder of force by the central
empires. If Germany had waited a
single generation she would have