The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
THE HOLY SEE.
Relations of the Pope with France, Germany
and Ireland.


LONDON, May 25.-The question of the Vati-
Gun has suddenly come to the front again.
The European press is full of rumors of rup-
lures between Rome and France, Rome and
Germany, and Rome and Ireland. Social
and other French anti-Republican papers
hint that there are impending difficulties,
which may place the Elysee in the same po-
sition in relation to the Holy See as was the
court of Berlin after the promulgation of
the laws of May. The Radical deputies are
doing their best to bring about what Con-
servatives affect to fear by clamoring for
vaxatious reductions to the budget of public
worship.
To ascertain what truth there is in all the
reports floating about, your correspondent
thought it we'll to address questions to-day
to Monsignor Di Rende, the Papal Nuncio,
who very courteously authorizes me to pub
lish his replies.
'In the first place." said Monsignor Di
Rende, "allow me to contradict the state
ment that a protest has been sent to the
French government by the Holy See. No
such message has been forwarded. Had there
been one, it would, as a matter of course,
have passed through my hands. The Holy
Father may have made so me informal COM
plant to Count Lefebvre de Behague, at
Rome, and Cardinal de Cavigerie hearing
them, may have repeated them on his own
responsibility, in conversation with President
Grevy.
The Holy See has certainly been some
what annoyed by some vexatious incidents
in It's relations with the French government,
h,1f Of Nft,rn i1 h. ,I; ;..lk
danger. The rumors you refer to are, l am
afraid, the pure inventions of the Conserva-
tive papers, which have a weakness, like
other French papers, of appealing too much
to the passions of their readers, and not
enough to their intellect. 1 have always
thought that papers should have no settled
opinions, and do not like papers which are
Systematically Protestant or the reverse.
They should be mere reflections of opinion.
MY own intercourse with the French
government has been of a most agreeable
character, with one single exception. At my
first interview with Challemel La Cour, Quai
D'Orsay, was treated with positive rudeness,
and thought it necessary to inform Jules
Ferry of the fact. Ferry explained apollo
getically, that his colleague, the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs, was suffering from gastritis
No more was said Since then my relations
with the Quai D. Orsay have been more pleas
ant. As regards her general colonial policy,
lahSS uhIuSobiOhuplyt Wy hSI DcJllHeSS,
her cheeseparing, her tendency to reduce
small grants and her small grants there, is
steadily losing her foothold in Syria and
Africa, just as England is steadily gaining
both the prestige and influence which is
slipping away from France. think that this
is due, in great measure, to the wise good
will and respect England shows toward Catho-
lies. Malta is typical instance. There are
no more loyal subjects of England than the
Maltese
"Monsignor Guilbert, about whom there
has been so much talk has not yet accepted
the Archbishopric of Bordeaux. The Holy
See would ratify his nomination. or indeed,
that of almost any priest of pure character
indorsed by the French government 1t
would not listen, perhaps, to the question of
Monsignor Ballot de Minieres's appointment.
The Vatican would prefer Monsignor Thomas
to either Guilbert or Ballot de Minieres.
However, the Vatican has no wish to force its
preference upon France"