The times., 1899-07-17
EXCLUSION OF THE Pope
How the Vatican Was Barred From
The Hague Congress.
Some Secret History-A General Pro-
test Against PnpaI Representation
Failure of the scheme to Slip i'm
Semi-0ficialiy-The Holy Fathers
Views on Arbitration Disiiked.


Views on Arbitration DisIiked.
Rome June 25.-The Holy Sees attitude
| toward the Cars proposals with regard to
disarmament and arbitration was explain
ed some time ago in these letters. What
intrigues prevented Leo XIII. from being
invited to the Congress in spite of the
strong and real desire of Nicholas II? 1t
is generally accepted that Italy's jealousy
of the prestige of the Vatican, a jealousy
that at times becomes grotesque, closed
the doors of the Conference to the Pope.
/ This. however restricts a broad subject
/ to limits that are too narrow Russia
might have broken the barbarous resis-
| tance of the consulta; it might even bet
| ter have paid no attention to it. But the
negotiations disclosed the fact that behind
+ Italy there were entrenched the King of
the Belgians England's servant; the Brit
| ish Foreign Office, the Berlin Chancery.
Austria, Roumania. and Greece. At the very
! beginning, in order to wound no feel
! ings, Russia had changed the place for the
Conference from St Petersburg to The
Hague, hoping that the internuncio,
| Monsignor Tarnassi, would be ex-oficio a
member of the congress. The maneuvre
did not work. Germany and the great
powers, with the exception of Russia and
France, would on no condition permit the
presence of pontifical representative, and
this for two reasons.
In the first place, the wise policy of the
Pope, his lofty views on peace, his authori-
| ty on such matters. the pathetic eloquence
| of his voice, would have compelled the
acceptance of arbitration. Neither Ger
many nor England, however, wanted arbi-
tration, and. as it is they that are leading
the opposition Russia, on enquirng into
the matter, found herself face to face with
the threat Of an almost universal war if
she persisted in inviting the Holy Father
Moreover, Germany and her international
| accomplices felt that on being invited by
the Car, the Pope would feel under obli-
cations to that sovereign for the diplo-
matte attention. They feared policy OF
points of contact between Russia and the
Papacy whether in the Polish question or
| in the Orient in Asia Minor and the Balkan
Peninsula, or in China. Roman questions
nowadays are the foundation of European
and extra-European questions. The turn
| taken by the deliberations at The Hague
will show clearly that those powers wished
for the exclusion of the Pope in order to
bring TO naught the pacifying programme
OF Nicholas H. f
Russia has kept up bher negotiations in
favor of the Pope despite these machina-
tions. She ordered heF Ambassador 10 the
Quirinal not to interfere any more in these
matters, for, strangely enough, NJ. Nelidow
kept exciting Admiral Canevaro, the Italian
Foreign Minister against Russia. rival
of Count Mouravieff M. Neidow seemed
to wish for the failure of the Conference.
The history of diplomacy is full OF such
charming bits of treachery- The consulta
retained its uncompromisiug attitude. At
the last moment the Gear intervened per-
sonally with the Quirinal so as to step
over all hindrances. Wretched Italy with
stood the colossus OF the north. This un-
mannerly obstinacy proved to the Gear
that behind the Quiri1al stood the great
| powers. s'i4--
He made last effort. signor Viscont
Vencsta came into power. His re atlons
with the Quai d'Ordsay and NJ. De case
were cordial. 1t was hoped that at last
the representative OF the Holy See might
be present at the deliberations on arbitra
tion. Russia and the Dutch Government
came to an agreement with Monsignor Tar
n.ysi to propose a compromise TO the Pope,
consisting of an exchange of letters on the
one side and on the other AN expression
of esteem for the noble ideas and generous
intentions Of Rome rendered by the Con-
gress at the opening session. That was
letting the Holy See into the Congress by
a side door curious thing, that has not
yet been explained is that the Vatican,
after accepting. suddenly retale1 Monsig
nor Tarnassi, who will not so back to The
Hague. This startling step has excited
surprise. Why has Leo KILL so full of
moderation and regard for others, broken
off without any explanation? 1t seems tn t
! the surprise has become amazement on
the Papacy's declaring to Russia that it is
not on her that it places the responsibility.
and that the Car Will appreciate the
higher reasons of the Pope. The misun-
) derstanding, the suspicion, the coldness,
which as some powers hoped, would spring
out of the failure, have not arisen. the
friendship between Rome and the Gar
has, on the contrary, become an intimacy.
Russia is at this moment taking step
, at the Vatican which will have real in
huence on the future What that step is
will perhaps be known before long.
The exclusion of the Pope is looked upon
By many persons as a serious mistake. All
the small powers, weary OF armaments.
even now wish for the Popes intervention.
| know from an Authority whose informa-
tiGn is always correct. that steps have been
taken to lead the Pope into taking SEN
sational action. Impassiye, Leo XIII
holds to his reserve lie mas patience, that
divine part of the art OF government;
moral powers have time for them and with
them time. the stuff of which great things
are made" Whether invited or not wheth-
| or be intervenes or abstains, his is the
nobler part. 1t is Italy which. in the eyes
} OF the public that knows nothing of hidden
workings will bear the responsibility for
for the failure OF the Conference. There
she is now. that Italy whom the Liberals
hal cd in bn Of as ba
symbol of progress of civilization, and OF
liberty! She has become, and that is her
! real character, the provoker of trouble, and
! disturber Of international order There
she stands unmasked, in the horrible max
edness CT her anti-Italian, anti-social,
l anti-civiized, and anti-pontifical policy
J The latter will kill the former.
.-.L INNOMINATO.
4 Church Eight in Court