Bishop Baltes informs McMaster that whoever reported to him that he, Baltes, had called on the Bishops of the U.S. for approval of his Pastoral, has reported a falsehood. He wrote to some Bishops to hear their views on the subject and this was only done after he received flattering letters from most of them. He does not recollect having mentioned McMaster in any of these letters and his only purpose was to secure answering letters which he could send to Rome to counteract letters which the editor of the Watchman and other St. Louis clergymen had sent to Rome against him. As far as Baltes knows McMaster has not made any comments upon the Pastoral nor did he think that McMaster would. None of the letters Baltes received have been sent to Rome. They are all yet in his possession. Baltes has not been condemned by any tribunal nor has he made or has he any reason to make an appeal to Rome. His Pastoral must be left to stand entirely upon its own merits. It is painful that he has been attacked by newspapers but even more painful that he be misunderstood and misrepresented by his brethren. The remarks which McMaster makes about nationality have been unprovoked by Baltes, and they lead him to suspect the honesty of McMaster's motives. After reading the appendix, Baltes sent him, he should have corrected his mistake and the injury done to Baltes, who bears no personal ill-will against McMaster. Baltes has gone more than half way in the matter, but McMaster will not meet him. Indeed, Baltes intends to celebrate his next Mass for McMaster, hoping that he will always be guided by honesty and truth and will be converted and do much good while he McMaster yet lives. P.S. Baltes proposes to McMaster that if McMaster will print the statement of apology and retraction he has prepared, the interdict on the paper will be lifted. He asks that a copy of the Journal in which this statement appears be sent to him and the interdict will be immediately removed in the form of a letter sent to McMaster which he may publish if he wishes. If McMaster does not print the apology, Baltes hopes they will part on peaceful terms and expects all offensive language against him to cease. This communication is to be kept strictly confidential. :: I-2-c A.L.S. 6pp. 12mo.