George Matulaitis Journal

234 the Church and also obtain a decree of complete freedom for the Church. In the meantime, he could invite the Jesuits from Kraków to come to work somewhere in Russia. And he went on to tell me a lot of other things. It seemed to me that he was especially interested in the Jesuits and wanted to find out if there were any around here. He also wanted to know my opinion of the Bolsheviks and their relations with the Church. He was still a young man, clean-shaven and very adroit. He gave the impression of being much-traveled and boasted of having been practically everywhere. His features and speech were similar to those of a Jew. Besides, he was much given to boasting and bragging about his position. He came with Father Lubianiec, the Seminary Inspector, who, apparently, believed Father Baliulis’s recommendation. I told this gentleman and commissar more or less the following:“If you give the Church real freedom I, of course, will be very happy and will naturally make use of it, since the present situation is intolerable. Now is not the time to invite the Jesuit Fathers here or to Russia. First, let us have peace and tranquillity, then we can evaluate the situation in which the Church finds itself and decide what to do.” He had also said, and perhaps this is what he was really after, that the Bolshevik government wanted to establish relations with the Holy See with the help of Bishops von Ropp and +ozi<ski . He asked me if I would like to contribute to this effort. Besides, he said, would it not he better if we delegated a layman, namely him, to deal with matters concerning the Holy See. I answered that, in my opinion, there was no need to search for new ways to communicate with Rome. If the Bolshevik government wants to do so, it can request that the Holy Father send his representative here, as Monsignor Ratti is in Warsaw and Archbishop Pacelli in Münich. Then we, the bishops, would have direct communication with Rome and would not need to delegate anyone. At this time I cannot join in the effort on which you say you have agreed with Bishops Ropp and +ozi<ski . I would have to see them and confer with them myself. It seems to me that it would be desirable to wait for better times.” This gentleman also asked me if I wished to send a letter to Bishop Ropp through him. I answered: “Thank you for your kind intentions,