The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-05

L. S. Wondering on
Whose Terms Pope
Might Seek Peace
BY Charles p. Stewart

Might Seek Peace
BY Charles p. Stewart
Pope Plus MI is pgO-peace. Of
course. But upon whose terms
Does the supreme pontin indorse
the Anglo.AmeriCan demand for
the Axis unconditional surrender?
or would he cast his influence in
favor OF some such bargain as
might be proposed by totaliiariau
leadership
Washington is wondering.
First came news OF DuCe Musso-
lni's appointment OF his souiu-
law Count Ciano, as his diploma
tic representative ar the Vatican.
Other considerations than the
peace issue were involved in the
selection. Still, it was recognized
that Benito probably is heartily
sick OF his alliance with Fuehrer
Hitler and Emperor Hirohito, and
the surmise was that he was seek
ing His Holiness good Offices in
an EFFORT 10 get ont OF H.
The demoCracies certainly
would not make any concessions
10 Signor MuSsolini but they
might show. bit OF mercy to the
reasonably decent Italian rank
snd-fle. II it would dump him
overheard and admit having been
film TANNED into their nation 3
association with the NaZiS.
The no compromise verdict
was intended TO apply especially
TO Germany and the Japs
As for Nippon. a discussion OF
terms with Tokyo's militariSts
would be like discussing terms
with a mad dog, critter that can
not even be licked uncondition-
ally but has to be eXterminated
While Herr Hitler lasts. though.
it IS not imagined that Germany
will surrender. except perhaps
Couditionally There is more Or
less surmising however. that
Adolf. foreseeing inevitable defeat
as the conflict continues. may be
maneuvering for an imitation
truce FOR a decade or two. to keep
himself in power al home for.
possibly. az much as the rest OF
his lifetime. everlastingly hatch
ing more trouble and hoping to in.
cubate another war-egg in due
season
Hence. the United Nations I'M
conditional surrender ultimatum.
II doubtless is odd TO surmise
that such a hoodlum as Adolf may
have been gambling on Papal APP
proval OF his armistice plan.
Nevertheless, that Ciano appoint
ment gave rise to some such spec
ulation.
But now come dispatches tell
ing OF the Pope's reception OF the
Argentine legations secretary in
Rome.
Now. Argentina Is Latin Ameri-
cas- one remaining at least neu-
trail republic. A fair share OF
them are definitely at war with
the Axis, but the Argentine, alone.
has not broken relations. 1t IL
the one country on this side OF
the oceans which conCeivably
could be conciliatory.
Far be it from ne to imply a
suspicion that the Vatican has the
slightest inclination 10 aid an
Axisly-evolyed plan for a nego-
tiated peace treaty.
Yet il is understandable that
Catholic Italy should look appear.
inRly in that direction.
New Works. Archbishop Fran
els J. Spellman is notable like
wise. The archbishop IS supposed
10 be the spokesman for the
A1isly-overrun countries. He. too,
is negotiating with the Vatican.
Indications are that the Axis
folk are glad 10 have him doing
So in the hope that he will pacify
their temporary conquests.
An essential part OF the arch
bishops mission is said 10 be the
organization OF Catholicism in
Russia The leadership there has
been violently anti-religious since
the revolution. but Christianity is
by no means dead in Russia.
The Pope is not TO be discounted
as political influence.
heard him make a speech in
Washington, as Eugenio Cardinal
Pacelli. before his elevation to the
papal throne
Plus XII is a capable orator in
the English language. not to men.
ton American version of it. I
do not know how he learned our
language wrinkles, but he has
them down pat.
The pontiffs casual converse.
ton is good stuff--or was when
he was a mere cardinal
They say Archbishop Spellman
and. possibly Archbishop Samuel
Stitch of Chicago, are about to be
elevated TO the Sacred College OF
Cardinals II so, this may have
It's political as well as its eccle-
siasticsl influence in today s
world affairs.
WIFE WON'T BE THERE
n