The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-17
Has Not Yet Reached Agree
rnent With Vatican
MAY TRY IT OVER LATER ON
In the Meantime the FrIar Lands VIII
Remain In Possession of the Gov
rnment-Journey Is
Compensated.

washington, July 16.-One week from
tomorrow Governor Taft will sail from
Italy resuming his journey to Manila.
If the vatican has by that date concluded
to accept the terms respecting the sale
of the friar lands and withdrawal of the
friars themselves from the Philippines.
the paper will be signed by Governor
Taft and the arrangements will be re-
garded as closed If, on the other hand,
the cardinals committee, which is deal
ing with this important matter, is unable
to accept the terms proffered, or if it is
not prepared to make a final arrange
ment, the Governor will still proceed on
his way and the negotiations will be sue-
pended. This decision on the part of
Secretary Root probably is the most I'M
portant outcome of his recent trip to
Oyster Bay, where the subject was dis
cussed with the president,
1t does not follow that Governor Taft's
resumption of his Journey without sign
ing the papers Of sale and withdrawal
means the absolute abandonment of ne
gotiations on those points. Technically
they will be regarded as merely suspend
ed and to open the resumption at any
moment when either Of the principals
has had a change of mind sufficient to
warrant a new proposition. Meanwhile
there will be no change Of the status of
the friars orders in the Philippines
Land Does Not Change Hands.
Their land will remain in the possession
Of the insular government, and the sew
eral thousand friars who are carrying in
Manila as charity charges upon other
hro11 of al.t hi xrrflfT
main here and gradually find their way to
another country. 1t is regarded as certain
| by the administration that they will not
undertake to return to their individual
parishes N the Philippines for there is not
sufficient power in the insular govern
ment to protect their lives from the ma
tives, and being duly warned of the dan
ger, it Is believed that the local govern
mcnt will thus have relieved itself from
responsibility if they return, Thus the
situation of the administration stand
point WILL not be particularly distress
ing, even II Governor Taft does not carry
away with him from Rome a complete re-
linquishment of the land titles, and an
undertaking to withdraw the friars and
although the officials would much rather
close up the matter at this time, they
take the view that the responsibility for
not doing SO will remain with tho vat
lean.
Judge Taft's Note.
The following is in part Judge Taft's
last note to the vatican. 1t is addressed
to Cardinal Rampolla, papal secretary OF
state and begins thus:
In reply to the two notes Of your emil
hence of June q and July 0, l have just
received a communication from the Sec
rotary of War in precise and exhaustive
terms, which are here reproduced inte-
| Do ha 10 or
to see by the two notes received from
the vatican that the Holy See Is Animal
ed by the best intentions to come to an
understanding with Washington about
the relations between church and state in
the Philippines; that your eminence has
declared the vatican to be disposed to
give clear and precise Instructions to the
friars to occupy themselves with religion
only. abstaining entirely from politics,
and that the Holy See proposes to intro
duce, little by little, ecclesiastics of 9TH
err nationalities, especially American
Secretary Root adds that he cannot do
less than acknowledge the wisdom OF
these propositions but that he must OBJ
serve that they would not solve the ques-
ton.
The United States has no desire to
violate the treaty of Paris, and seeks
| not a forcible but voluntary withdraw
al of certain persons, who happen to be
| SpanlaTQS, ana whose previous expert
ences In the island had thrown them into
antagonistic relations with the people and
with the Catholic laity and native clergy,
many of whom have left their parishes
and can only be reinstated by using mate
rial force which the United States can
not permit.
This proves that the government of the
Philippines has no intention to propose
measures contrary TO the interests of the
l.. g. A. 49, L.. -.
church II the question of withdrawal
would be left unsolved, now that the
Washington government has persuaded
the ecclesiastical authorities to see the
necessity of carrying out this step, the
latter withdrawal of the friars under Or
der Of the religious superior could not be
regarded as anything but voluntary. and
would no. violate the treaty of Paris nor
could such order be regarded as affirming
or admitting any accusations against the
friars, because of the American govern
ment made no such accusation. The Uni
tee Slater did not desire the withdraw
for itself-it was Indifferent to the pres
ence of the friars-but in the interest Of
the whole people of the Philippines, who
were bitterly opposed to their presence.
Much Was Hoped For.
ut was thought by the generous pro-
posal of a contract which would bind the
| Philippine government to certain finan-
cial and other obligations to secure The
much longed- for desire of the Philippine
pccrie in the withdrawal of the friar5.
Now that the Vatican does not see it's
way clear to make definite withdrawal,
the American government has deemed II
wise to recur to the methods of settle
ment of the various questions at issue
suggested by Cardinal Rampolla's first
communication of June 81, namely:
First. An investigation by both sides
into the possible and probable liabilities
and claims and the settlement of them
by an accredited apostolic delegate with
the governor In Manila, after the condi-
lions with respect to the titles of the
friars to the land and the amount of
claims for rental have beer presented
by the representative of the church to
the representatives of the Philippine gov
eminent in Manila.
LAS to the indemnity for the friars'
| lands, your eminence has pointed out the
difficulty Of computing precipitately the
exact value, but this might be done by
examining the title deeds. The Wash
ington government will Immediately or
der the general commanding the forces
in the Philippines to furnish all indica-
lions to ascertain what damage has been
done by the military.
Journey 10 Compensated.
Secretary Root in his communication
declares that Judge Taft's journey Is
quite compensated for by the fact that II
is possible to fix general lines on which
later can be amicably resolved all the
| questions now pending. Meanwhile ~