Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-25
Russian Drive Seen
Behind Rooseve|t's
Link With Vatican
President and Pope Held
In Accord on Opposition
To Red Aggression
n the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Soviet Russia's westward drive is
believed here to be one of the prime
reasons which prompted President
Roosevelt to appoint a personal
representative to the Vatican.
Persons in well-advised quarters
called attention to the Presidents
phrase-''it is we'll that we en-
courage a closer association between
those in every part of the world
those in religion and those in gov
ernment-who have common pur-
pose"
A common purpose" of both the
President and the Pope, they pointed
out. is opposition to Russian agrees
sion. Since Russia's drive into the
Baltic. Pope Plus has directed one
vigorous blast after another at
Russia. He strongly resented RuSsia's
swallowing up part of Poland, a
heavily Catholic country. He was
concerned by the fact that Russia's
borders had now reached Hungary,
another Catholic country. He was APP
prehensive lest Communism spread
III Central Europe.
The Presidents moves on behalf
Of Finland and his denunciation of
Russia are well known-bitter con-
uemnaticn of Russia. credits for
Finland, .enef funds for Finland.
proposec. return of Finland's debt
payment. and perhaps more.
United in Fear of Russia.
The Pontiff and the President are
united in their fear of what Russia's
advances may mean to European
civilization.
A more delicate question is their
attitude toward the war between
Germany and the allies.
There can be little doubt that the
svmpathies of the administration are
with the allies. And although the
Pope has sought to remain outward
lv neutral undoubtedly the Vatican
has been affected by the fact that
it's enemy, Soviet Russia, has Joined
fortunes with Nazi Germany and
that both wiped out Catholic Po-
land
Informed observers said they be-
lieved the parallel endeavors for
peace" which the President men
toned in his letter to Pope Plus
limited at a peace that would not
be disadvantageous to the allies and
democratic ideals in Europe
They pointed to the Presidents
phrase. When the time shall come
for the establishment of world
peace on a surer foundation ~
AS meaning a peace different from
that which existed up to September
l. when Germany was marching
into one corner of Europe after an
other.
They believed. too, that a closer
Government and the Vatican would
have an influence in keeping Italy
out of the war on the side of Ger
many
Italy, being IS per cent Catholic
and the Vatican's antagonism to
Soviet Russia being so pronounced,
1t is not thought possible here for
Italy to jump to the side of nation
fighting in cooperation with the U.
S. S. R.
May Bring i'm Vatican.
If the United States is to be in
cluded in the final peace conference,
President Roosevelt's letter to the
Pope-may have some effect in bring
ing in the Vatican as we'll. BY
agreement with Italy, which was
then inimical to the Vatican. the
allies kept the Vatican from being
represented at the Paris peace con-
ference which resulted in the treaty
of Versailles. Perhaps different
treatment may be accorded the
Vatican at the peace settlement to
end the present war.
Some observers were of the opin-
ion that an American representative
TO the Pope would likewise have an
indirect effect in keeping Catholic
Spain neutral, and possibly beneyo-
lently neutral, toward the allies.
An official said he was convinced
the Presidents move would have a
pronounced effect in another direc-
ticn-Latin America. Most of the
American republics have diplomatic
representation to the Vatican, and
all are predominantly Catholic. A
gesture of sympathy and union. by
the President toward the Pope would
therefore be followed with sympathy
by the nations to the south