The evening times., 1900-01-10

Considerable interest has been aroused
in State Department circles over report
that Archbishop Chapelle is alleged to
have said that the principal part of MS
mission to the Philippines is to selue
claim that the Catholic Church holds on
property in the Philippines
According to the report the Archbishop
is quoted as saying that the church has
claim to a fee simple title to all oil me
land in the Philippines derived from
grants made in aid Of missionary work by
Spain centuries ago. The Archbishop ~
is alleged. had an agreement with the Aa-
ministration before he left Washington
whereby in consideration of S2o,VVo'ooo
worth of property TO be selected by 'he
Archbishop in the Philippines the rhurch
viii waive all claims to any other property
OF the Philippine Islands
When Archbishop Chapelle was appoint
ed Apostolic Delegate 10 the Philippines
he had several interviews with the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State regarding MS
mission. The nature of these conferences
was never made public. but it is said Jhat
they largely perJaugd 10 the question OF
what portion of the rights the chNrch Leld
under Spanish rule in the Phlllpplhes
would be recognized By this country "heh
civil government was once esJaDheheu III
The islands.
The church it is said held millions OF
dollars worth of property in the Phlllp-
pines when Spain had control OF the ISL
ards and The priests and friaTs also en-
loved many privileges which nave oetu
Cilrtailed. il is alleged. since the Ameri-
cans established a military government
there. Until the insurrectiOn among lhs
natives is thoroughly stamped out. y
said the questions CT the church proper -
and the rights of the priests ana iriaIs VIII
be held in absyance.
Arcbbishop Chapelle. however, has arTiv-
ed in Manila. and. besides aiding the
priests is looking after and relieving the
distress among the natives. VIII. X Is re
ported examine thoroughly INTO all tLe
claims made by the church 10 property
with a view of obtaining as nearly as pos
sible an accurate estimate of what prop
erty he church can justly lay claim to am
What rights and privileges the clergy ouSh
10 enjoy under American rule.
A. The State Department il was said iha'
pofbirr WAS known of the alleged clam
sNa, ,br church had been granted titlt
10 the Philippines by Spain several hun
dred wears age. and that if such had beer
tho cs.g il would certainly have beer
brought cut al the time of the signing C
tba treaty between Spain and this country
nv which the Philippines passed INTO IN
,oseess:oH OF The United States. Nothn4
was said of the church having a claim o.
the islands while the treaty was pending
aud The state Department officials are no
inclined 10 believe that such claim VIII d
pUt forth al this time.
Il was further said lhat there vas E'
doubt but thar the church had pos
sessad vast properties under Spanish Iu.'
in the Philippines and that the church va
entitled 10 consideration in respect 20 ih'
claims which would doubtless he pTeseh'e
la1ar. What these claims are Is not known
as they have not yet been presented, an
II vas not believed that any definite sun
mad been mentioned by Archbishop Cha
ralle in his conference with the Preslden
and he Secretary Of State about the iutuf
OF me church in the Philippines.
The Caesti0n OF 5tg privileges @! N,
rr.fr.rs and fr.arS In the Philippines Nhlti
rIcv have enjoyed fer hundreds OF years p
Vac said. would be a matter for discus
sion when they were formally brought DE
fore The department. bur il ives not though
5har there would he the slightest Ua1bi'
in settling the matter in a manner -atsfae
gorv 10 all concerned.