File No. 763.72119/965
The Ambassador in Italy ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29, 3 p.m.]
1251. I hear that yesterday Vatican sent out through Associated Press statement that the Pope is in favor of a peace just and durable, and discountenanced loose peace efforts on the part of certain persons in United States, also discountenanced chain system of peace prayers.
To-day Vatican has given Associated Press representative here statement part of which sent to Cardinal Bourne, London, replying to attack on Vatican by London Morning Post. It declares that Pope is and has always been unprejudiced spectator trying to adjust differences of combatants. Denies charge that he is a pacifist, working to stop war at all costs; denounces charge that Vatican is implicated in disruptive propaganda; states Pope’s appeal inspired by integrity and to influence of no power and says, in fact, if any countries are favored they are not Central Empires. Emphasizes point that note was addressed to heads of belligerents not the peoples, further states Roman hierarchy and clergy have labored loyally to counteract disintegrating propaganda and that chaplain in chief informed supreme civil authorities of conditions Army.