Evening journal., 1893-12-30
POPE and CZAR AT ODDS
Leo XIII Wrote a Letter Which
Made Alexander Angry.
TRYING TO PATCH UP PEACE NOW.
The Relations Between Russia aud the VAT
lean Strained nooauso Of tho Persecution
OF tho Polish Catholios-The Czar Wants
"A Reconciliation.

OF tho Polish Cntholics-Tho Czar Wants
n Reconciliation.
PARIS, Dec. sO.-The Paris edition Of
The Herald publishes the following today
from Rome; For some days past the most
contradictory rumors have been IN circu-
lation here concerning the relations exist
ing between the Vatican and Russia. On
one hand it Is said that the most extreme
tension exists. On the other the relations
are said TO be Of the greatest cordialty. A
high parsonage Of the Vatican says: "rhe
relations between the pope and the csar
are at this moment very much strained.
In July last the pope wrote the czar an au-
tograph letter in which he complained of
the prosecutions of Roman Catholics in
Poland.
Leo XIII Made tho Car Angry.
1T was written in a very sharp key. Leo
Alll declared to the czar that il the perse-
cutions did not cease he would be COM
PEELED TO protest solemnly In the face Of
Europe against the intolerance of the car.
When the car received this letter, he fell
into violent rage and lac was on the point
Of breaking of all relations with the Vatl-
can. However, after rejecting, Alexander
| III decided to reply TO the pope, and hedid,
NttNtNttf NA ans ~ ANAAAH NAt tNNNANas NJ IS
wolsli, official agent Of Russia to tho Vati-
ean, being just then in Russia taking a
holiday, was sent back TO Rome rs the
bearer Of the czar's reply, which was con
veyed directly to the pope at a special audi
| ence fortnight ago.
THE letter of the pope TO the car was
written under the inspiration OF Cardinal
| Ledochowski. The prefect of the propa-
ganda Is known TO be an adversary of the
tranco-Russian policy, and Cardinal Ram
| polia and the pope, equally under the adj
vice Of Ledochowski, ordered the socretari-
ate Of state to odruw up for the Russian gov
| ernment memorandum which enumer-
ated the complaints Of the Vatican. This
memorandum was sent TO Russia two
months ago
Following these communications the
car learned that the pope was preparing a
public document on the condition of affairs
in Poland. IL was even conveyed to the
car that the pope had an oncyclical ready
protesting against the oppression Of the
Polish Catholics.
It Frightened the Gar.
"The ozar thereupon got frightened. and
he has Just sent TO Rome the Catholic
bishop of Tiraspol, persona grata at St
Petersburg, to speak a good word to the
pope and to dissuade him from putting hi.
project into execution
The ambassadors of Germany and Aus
tria and also the italian government an,
watching with keen interest this dispute
which shows that the Russo o-Natican en-
tente is not a mere fancy, and this tension
between the pope and the ear might enc
in q rapprochemeut between the Vatican
and the triple alliance
Meanwhile at the embassies Of Germany
and Austria complaint is made that con
trary to custom Cardinal Rnmpolla com
municated TO the French embassy IN Rom,
a copy of the letter of the pope to the car
It is understood that the French embassy
is energetically supporting the efforts oi
the bishop Of Tiraspol to prevent a rupture
which would be news Of Joy to the tripl,
alliance