The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-27
American Property Rescued from Ital-
ian Confscation.

Some two months ago we drew attention
to the grave injury with which the property
Of American citizons In Romo was threatened
by tho proposed conversion OF the real estate
belonging to the Propaganda Society. In tho
assets OF that association was included the
building occupied by the American College,
for whose improvement and maintenance
largo sum Of money had been contributed by
Catholics residing In the United States. The
sale OF this cdiaco under tho recent decree Of
tho Court Of Cessation and tho Investment
Of the proceeds In italian Government bonds
would have involved . lose OF nearly sixty
Per cont, and to this extent would plainly
have been tantamount to conflscation. It
was fitting that President ARTHUR, In the
narne Of the ooo, 600 Catholics In this country,
should promptly and earnestly protest
against . fragrant violation OF their vested
rights, and We are glad to learn that his re-
monstrance has ELECTED from the DEPREr1s
Ministry . stipulation to exempt tho property
OF the American College from the operation
Of the decree against the Propaganda.
We should not be surprised, however, II
the action Of our State Department, follow
Cd, a. II doubtless will be. by analogous pro-
81
should have effects far wider than wero por-
hsps contemplated. and should ultimately
eonstrain King HUMBERT's Government to
materially change its attitude toward the
Propaganda Association. The enforcement
Of the judgment directing tho conversion Of
tho property Of that society cannot easily be-
rcccnctled with certain admissions made In
the official correspondence. Especially sig-
niicsnt IL tho ground adduced by the
italian Minister for Foreign Affairs for
excluding the American College from
the scope Of the decree affecting the real
estate Of the Propaganda. He points out
that the building In question was originally
bought with Propaganda funds, and no
might have added that all improvements
subsequently, effected would attach to the
realty. and wore made at tho tenants rick,
but he goes on to say that since 1t was the
Intention OF the person furnishing the orig
inal purchase money, as we'll ~ OF the sub
seQuent contributors, to found An eoclesiasti-
cal school, the institution thus created falls
under article IS Of the law Of July. 1885,
which expressly exempts from sale eduoa-
uonal establishments.
Now, nothing IL more clear TO those who
arc conversant With tho subject than that
the reason hero assigned for sparing the
American College may be invoked on behalf
Of ell tho property Of the Propaganda
Society. which 10 essentially and palpnbly an
educational institution. Not only are all Its
assets, real and personal. applied to educa-
tonal purposes In tho largo sense Of
the term which embraces missionary
labors, but 1t would probably be easy
to show that large part OF its
property in Rome had been purchased, In
strict fulllment Of the donors wishes.
with funds contributed by Catholics in the
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain,
or Austria FOR tho specific object Of support
'ng missionary schools In heather countries.
twill hardly DO maintained that the teach
ing and converting Of thousands Of the
Aeothen lu Africa and Polynesia. In Farther