The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-18
ROOTS LAST NOTE
Relative to Negotiations of Judge
Taft for Friar Lands.


partment has made public the last note
of Secretary Root to Governor Taft
relative to the negotiations for the
friars' lands. 1t formed the basis of
the note which Governor Taft COM
July IA, 1902.
Taft, Hotel Quirinal, Rome:
Il am gratified by the expression OF
intention on the part OF the holy see 10
take measures which are indicated by
Cardinal Rampolla'S memoranda of the
22nd of June and of the 10th of July to
recall the religious orders in the Philip
pine islands to the life proper to their
Institutes and to an exclusive devotion
to spiritual ministry, abstaining from
any kind of interference with things
appertaining to the civil authority and
to introduce as much as possible the re-
ugiouS orders of natiOnalitleS other than
Spanish, and particularly the religious
orders of American nationality, and to
cOncede to them the parochial ministry
soon they shall be sufficiently in
Structed in the language OF the country
Such a voluntary withdrawal cannot be
considered a violation of any rights I'M
der the treaty of Paris or otherwise, or
any reflection either upon the nation
or upon the orders to which the persons
withdrawing happen to belong. The rea-
sons making the withdrawal desirable
are not religious or racial, but arise
from the political and social relations
which existed under the former govern
ment and which have created personal
antipathies menacing to the peace and
order of the community.
ut is the desire to accomplish the re-
moval of this cause of disturbance and
discord that has led me to approve that
clause of your proposal which would in
volve the government of the Philippines
in large and underlined obligation for
the purchase of lands in advance of
SPECIFIC ascertainment of their values
and of the estimated prices which we
can reasonably expect to receive from
them when We in turn offer them for
sale; and to the clauses which would
anticipate the authority of congress in
regard to the entertainment of rentals
and damages in the course of occupa-
ton and in the conveyance of church
lands provided for in your proposal.
II this object Is not to be assured
then the arrangement sought should be
quite different in form. and should
more closely follow the suggestions of
Cardinal Rampolla in his memorandum
of June %. where in he says that an es-
innate of the value of the lands con-
formable with the principles of justice
and equity is a complicated question,
requiring special study of the facts of
the case and cannot be solved with pre-
cfpitation and declares the disposition
OF the holy see to furnish the new apos-
tolic delegate, who is to be sent to the
philippines, with necessary and oppor-
tune instructions. in order to treat
amicably this affair in understanding
parties interested and so to arrive at
fixing a satisfactory accord whether on
the value of the lands or the conditions
of the sale and wherein he further says
that the apostolic delegate will be in
structed upon all the matters touched
upon In the memorandum to come to
an understanding with the American
authorities and secure a just settle
ment.
Following the course thus proposed bv
his emlnence he having secured a full
and definite enumeration of the various
parcels or property in which the religious
orders are interested and which they are
willing to sell it will be the duty Of the
willing to pay That price will, of course,
be largely affected by the practical bene-
view of all the facts then existing This
course also makes 1t possible to take into
due consideration that fact which now
appears, that contrary to our former sup
position. the real and substantial title to
the lands in great measure has passed
out OF the religious orders and is vested
In corporations which they cannot entirely
control. and which hold the lands for
competent to sell them 1t may well be
that the prices which you will feel just
ihed In offering for the lands will be
acceptable.
The whole matter may thus be dis
posed Of by friendly agreement, in con-
In business affairs. / believe that the
good understanding which has been reach
thorities in Rome cannot fail to do away
with the probability of friction or diff
Guilty. In the same manner / will direct
the general commanding in the Philip
pines to ascertain by the customary meth
DDS what buildings belonging to the
church have been occupied by American
troops, and for what periods; what dam
age has been done in each case; what
reasons if any exist for denying an obi
cation to pay rentals and damages: and
1 shall hope that the conclusion thus
reached will be satisfactory to the church.
"a similar treatment of all these sub
jects mentioned in your proposition may
with equal readiness be followed.
while it is to be regretted that the
authorities having control of the reli-
gious orders do not see their way to make
definite agreement for the withdrawal
from Manila of the friars formerly in
the parishes, yet it is hoped that pend
ing the settlement of these various mat
tiers they will reach the conclusion that
1T is wise to do the same thing of their
own motion and irrespective of any agree
ment to that effect. However that NAV
be, you should assure the authorities of
the church that we shall at all times do
all in our power to continue the good un-
Outstanding already reached and to agree
upon such action as shall be for the bene-
1T 0H further of