Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-24
ULINA|UA IO POPE
Taft and the Vatican in Wrangle
Over the Friars Land
Question.
"A Serious Hitch in the Negotia.
tons Being Conducted at
Rome.
Taft Advises That an Ultimatum
Be Sent to His H0l.
mess.

Washington, d. c., June PA serl-
ous hitch has occurred in the negotl-
ations between Governor Taft and the
Vatican for the purchase of the church
lands in the Philippines and settle
ment of the church question in the
islands.
Secretary Root has received cable
dispatch from Governor Taft urging
that an ultimatum be Immediately sent
to the pope, and that in the event Oh
noncompliance with it's terms the ne
gotiations be broken Off.
Governor Taft cabled at the same
time the full text of the reply of the
Vatican to the American propositions.
1t is very long and evades many OF
the questions discussed by Governor
Taft. 1t also names Objectionable con-
ditions which are partly the cause OF
the present unsatisfactory situation.
One condition demanded by the pope
in return for a sale of the friars lands
is that the primary public schools IL
the Philippine islands be under the
tutelage of the church. This Will not
be conceded by the American govern
ment. There are other conditions
which Governor Taft considers equal
ly Objectionable.
The position taken by the officers
here is that it is not at all necessary
to negotiate with the pope for the
purchase of the lands, but that 1T was
1,, % eraH
satisfactorily in that way and not nee
essitate long fight in the courts.
The instructions of our government
to Governor Taft when he started or
his mission to Rome made it clear
at the outset that there must be COM
plete severance of all relations between
church and state in the Philippines
These relations had become very
close during the reign of the Spanish
government and in the opinion of Gov
Taft We're partly responsible for the
situation in the Philippines. He con-
sidered the withdrawal of the friars es-
sential to continued peace in the islands
and the settlement of the land question
an important factor in the establish
ment of civil government.
He was determined, therefore to
press persistently his governments de-
mand that an agreement be reached by
which the friars would be sent to some
other country and thus rid the Philip
pines of one of it's greatest disturbing
elements. The land question was
thought to be easer of solution. There
is much property in the Philippines, the
title to which is vested in individuals
but which is claimed by the church,
and there is other property, the title to
which rests in the church, which is
claimed by others.
Land which undoubtedly belonged to
the government, and is, therefore pub
lie land belonging the United States by
reason of the change of sovereignty, has
been claimed by friars and 1t is not pro-
posed by the government to relinguish
the title to this property to the pope
when there is no doubt as to the right
full owners.
Governor Taft hoped it would be pos
sible to get the pope to adjust the land
questions by negotiation, but it is now
apparent the vatican hopes to secure
recognition of the church in the islands
in return for concessions to be made to
the American government, and it is this
to which Governor Taft objects.
Should the negotiations be broken off
1t will be the policy of the United States
to obtain the property in question by
proceedings in the Philippine courts
and pay for such property as it desires
by condemnation proceedings.