Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-06-26
HITCH over THE
FRIARS' LANDS
Governor Taft and the Vatican
Are Unable to Come to
Terms.
HE URGES AN uLT'MATuM
In case of Non compIiancs. Ho Aa-
vlses That Negotiation, 30 srokon
OM-The Pope VANS to Rulo
the Schools.
HE URGES AN uLTlMATUM

Washington. June 2s A serious
hitch has occurred in the negotiations
between Governor Taft and the vatican
for the purchase of the friars' lands in
the Philippines and settlement, OF the
church question in the islands. Secre-
tary Root has received a cable dispatch
from Governor Taft urging that an ui-
timatum be sent Immediately to the
pope and that in the event of nom
compliance with it's terms the negotia-
tions be broken off.
Governor Taft at the same time
cabied from Rome the full text of the
reply of the vatican to the American
propositions. II is long and evades
many of the questions discussed by
Governor Taft. 1T also names objec-
tionable conditions which are partly
the cause of the present unsatisfactory
situation.
One condition demanded by the pope
in return for a sale of he friars lands
is that the primary schools in the Phil
ippine islands be under the tutclage OF
the church. This will not be conceded
by the American government.
Urges an Ultimatum.
There are other conditions which
Governor Taft considers equally objec-
tionable, and he has therefore advised
Secretary Root to authorize him to de-
liver an ultimatllm to the pope. If this
is not agreed to Governor Taft will
withdraw at once and return to Ma
Mia.
The position taken by the officers
here is that it is not necessary to me-
gotiate With the pope for the purchase
of the lands, but thai it was hoped the
question could be arranged satsfactor-
lily in that way and not necessitate Il
long fight i'm the courts
The instructions of the American gov
eminent to Governor Taft when he
started on his mission to Rome made 1T
clear that there must be complete sew
erance of all rela lions between church
and state in the Philippines.
Governor Taft considered the with
drawal of the fra:rs essential to COR
tinued peace in the islands and the set
Element of the land question an i'm
portant factor IN the establishment of
civil government He Was instructed,
therefore, to make it plain to the vati-
can that there can be no further unity
of church and state in the Philippines,
but that all denominations will be
treated on the same footing.
Fear Friars May Cause Revolt.
One of the questions which it was
thought might be raised was the de-
mand that the friars shall not return
to the Philippines The feeling there
against these Representatives of the
church is so strong that Governor Taft
once said that their return might bring
about another uprising of the people
against the government should it per-
NIT them to re-enter the islands, ide has
determined, therefore, to press persist
|. emily his governments demand that an
agreement be reached by which they
would be sent to some other country
and thus rid the Philippines of one Of
it's greatest disturbing elements.
The land question was thought 10 De
easy of solution. There is much prop
erty 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 of
which rests in the church which is
claimed by others. Land which UNI
doubtedly belonged to the government,
and is therefore public land belonging
to the United States by reason of the
change of sovereignty. has been
claimed by the friars. and it is not pro-
posed by the government to relinquish
the title to this property to the pope
when there is no doubt as to the right.
L full owner