Imperial Valley press., 1939-03-13
The New Pope
P|eases America
By CHARLES p. STEWART

The longer the State Department
thinks the matter over, the better 1T
is pleased at Cardinal Pacelli'S elc-
vation to the vatican throne as
Pope Plus XII.
I don't intend to imply that the
rest of Washington officialdom is
not pleased too, but the state de-
partment is especially SO, because
that particular department takes
such a vital interest in Worldwide
developments, and the sacred col
lege'S selection of a new Pontiff is
rated as having been SO conspicuous
a triumph of democratic principles
ever totalitarianiSm.
Of course, this is taking a per-
haps unjustifiably political view of
an event essentially of a religious
nature. It's the view that the state
department does take, however. 1t
takes 1t very confidentially, to be
sure. II wouldn't do for Uncle
Sans government to express itself
audibly concerning political aspects
of the situation. 1t can be cOngratu-
latory in a general way, but it
mustn't say in SO many words that
it's rejoiced at the outcome, politi-
cally, of the conclaves vote in Car
dinal Pacelli's favor. That would
be a direct affront to the dictator
ridden nations. Indeed, maybe
Washington wouldn't object TO af-
fronting THEM; President Roosc-
velt has come pretty close to af-
fronting them already. But TO be
congratulatory upon openly politi-
cal grounds wouldn't be tactful to-
ward the Vatican, either
Diplomatic Good Taste
Diplomatic usage requires that
the United States and the other
democratic peoples should pretend
to regard Pope Plus XII simply as
a great church's spiritual leader;
not as mundane ally.
All the same, if the new Pope
reads the American newspapers, and
English and French journals, he
can't but understand that the dem
ocracies do rate him as one of their
outstanding sympathizers. And it's
we'll known that he does read them.
No Pope ever has been SO widely
Travelled and internationally we'll
acquainted as the present one.
The German press has not been
as restrained in its adverse COM
ment concerning the recent papal
choice as American comment has
been moderate in its nevertheless
Enthusiastically favorable comment
The democratic press has said,
frankly but not frantically, that it
greatly likes him Nazi publica-
tions warned against him in adj
vance and have denounced him
freely subsequently, as anti-HitleriS-
tic. They term him freely a pol
itlcal Pope-meaning anti-totalitar-
ian.
Italian newspapers have been
more discreet Mussolini actually
sent good wishes to the Vatican up
on the new Pope's election. Not that
they were warmly expressed; every
body is aware that the Vatican re-
suit was anti -MuSgolini. but there
are too many italian Catholics to be
antagonized safely.
Japan doesn't signify.
Neither dies Russia - which is
anti-clerical in every direction.
But Spain signifies. The war
there has been largely between
Catholics and anti-Catholics. The
Catholics have won, Italy and Ger
many backed them. Now Italy and
Germany want to gobble the coun-
try-aS q Catholic country. Yet the
new Pope seems likely to raise the
question:
ARE Germany and Italy truly
Catholic countries?"
If not, why should Germany and
Italy dominate Spain which ap-
parently is Catholic, although thew
especially Germany are NOT
Catholic?
CathOlic-But Democratic
The German press terms the Pope
bourgeois - meaning democratic in
the same sense that this country is
democratic. 1t says so in plain
language It's the fuehrer,s esti-
mate, voiced by his accredited pub-
licistS. They ought to know,
The prospects are that Plus XII
VIII have a heck of a time keepinp
ont of intprpntinnoI ,n,;tt F''