The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1922-05-12
POPE APPEALS
TO GENOA
Delegates Welcome Plea From
Vatican, Believing 1t Will Tend
to Modify Opposition at Home.
RUSSIA APPEALS TO FRANCE
Reds Send Note to PIacate French
Barthou Is Assured No Secret Pact
Exists With Berlin; Express De-
sire for Amicabie Relation.

Genoa.-Pope Plus XI sent note
to all the powers assembled at the
Genoa conference appealing to them
to adopt conciliatory attitude toward
Russia and open the way to peaceful
relationship among all the nations OF
the world The communication, sign
ed by Cardinal Gasparri, was handed
personally to the chief of each dele
cation at the conference by a special
courier from the Vatican just before
noon. 1t urges the necessity of a
worldwide understanding and indi-
Gates plainly the Supreme Pontiff's de-
sire that some agreement between
Russia and the western world be
reached at the present gathering.
Coming at moment when the con-
ference is in the throes of negotiations
over the terms on which Russia may
re-enter the family Of nations, the
Pope's appeal had a strong reaction on
the delegates. They feel that it will
bring pressure for peace on them from
home, also, and that it may serve to
clear away obstacles that SO far have
Doen lDSuTlIOuHtdDie.
Premier Lloyd George hastened to be
the first to issue a statement, declaring
that he was much pleased with the
Pope's appeal and greatly admired the
terms in which it was couched.
"The Pope speaks with first-hand
knowledge of the conditions existing
in eastern Europe" said the British
Premier. $50 clear and definite pro-
nouncement from the Holy See In
favor of concliation to all the Chris
tian powers of Europe"
After church services Lloyd George
had lunch with Catholic dignitary
from Rome who is supposed to have
been the Vatican's messenger.
A hopeful sign that the desire ex-
pressed by the Pope might be realized
was seen in q conciliatory letter writ
ten by Georg Tchitcherin, chief of the
Bolshevik delegation, to Louis Barthou,
Of the Paris group. The Russian
leader asserted that the Russo-German
treaty contained no secret military
clauses. as the French have feared,
and assured Barthou that the Boil
shevik's delegates were most anxious
to cooperate with France. If misun-
derstandings could be removed, Tchit-
cherin said, it would be possible to
make further treaties with other M
tions, as Russia desired general accord
with all the powers. The note express
ed the opinion that the work Of the
conference and the re-establ!shment of
stability in Europe would De FASTENED
If France and Russia could come to
an understanding.
The Pope's appeal did not meet from
France the same enthusiastic response
that it did from the British, although
there is no doubt that it will have a
favorable reaction On Catholic France.
The French delegation was disposed to
be critical because the spirit of the
Ponti's communication was contrary
to the policy which the French have
been pursuing. Although there was no
suggestion among the French that the
Pope was aiming at them particularly,
they did express the opinion that the
Holy Father had chosen a critical mo-
ment to exert pressure on all the ma
tions at Genoa in favor Of an under
standing with Russia.
It was recalled In French circles that
several weeks ago a report was circu-
lated that the Bolshevik had entered
into an agreement with the Vatican
by which Catholic missionary workers
might enter Russia unmolested and
carry on the teaching of their faith
among the peasants who formerly
were followers of the Russian ortho-
dox church under the Car. The Pope's
letter, therefore, counseling a spirit of
Cancellation toward Russia was regard
ed by some outspoken French Catholics
here as possibly natural sequence of
events which can lead to the establish
ment of Catholicism in Russia.
Regret was expressed in some
French circles that the Pope's COM
munication made no deprecatory al
lusion to the wrongs committed under
tho Soviet regime in Russia.