Great satisfaction has been felt at the impressive way in which the Pope's message on peace has been everywhere received.
Very many messages expressing adherence to the Holy Father's views have been received on the part of both political and ecclesiastical personages.
There is satisfaction also at the way in which Great Britain has welcomed the Papal lead and the Osscrvatore Romano noted how Lord Halifax in his radio message referred with words of deep consideration to this help.
The Vatican has welcomed with the liveliest sympathy the ::ing of the Belgians' call to peace, and the efforts made by President Roosevelt. King Leopold, in a personal letter, informed the Holy Father of his intention to make his appeal and conveyed its contents to the Vatican. In answer, the Holy Father himself expressed to the King his thanks and congratulations.
The Pope on Wednesday sent messages to Queen Wilhclmina of Holland and to King Leopold of Belgium offering the " moral support and deepest appreciation " of the Vatican for their peace efforts.
Work Goes On
The " moment of halt and reflection " which has come about after these generous peace attempts, among which the Papal message has held perhaps the highest place, is being studied with the greatest attention in the Vatican, where it is insisted that the need now is to undertake and continue negotiations in a true spirit of conciliation, with a firm will to understand one another and to eliminate all causes which could stand against a final solution to the controversies, such as would truly bring that " stable peace " so often invoked and fought for by the Pope.
Thus the Osservatore Romano comments: " It is necessary to finish with this suspense in the unknown void. It must be finished in the same spirit of good will which is expressing itself in the determination not to precipitate the irreparable.
" An armistice should become peace and peace should not only be an armistice. The proper hope is not that there should not be a catastrophe now, but that there should .never again be one."