Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-21
THE PHILIPPINE FR|ARS
TAFT SAYS VATICAN
ANSWERS ARE VAGUE
American Propositions in Detail
Administer Schools According to
American Laws Expulsion Of
FriarS and Spanish Treaty.

I'O It'tlNtu NdluIlldlS hHlDOl' uOlll'
Wives, Steinhuber and Vannutelli, and
conferred with them two hours on the
Philippine question. The Pope ex.
pressed desire to avoid any conflict
and urged the cardinals to negotiate
in a conciliatory mood.
The genesis of the interchange of
notes between Judge Taft, acting for
the United States, and the commission
OF cardinals acting for the vatican is
as follows:
Governor Taft presented or June II
his first proposals to the cardinals
commission. These were exclusively
business-like. The proposals were as
follows:
First, to ascertain the valuation Of
the real estate belonging to the reli-
gious orders in the Philippines: second,
that America shall purchase said prop
erty; third, that the Catholic schools in
the Philippines be administered accord
ing to American laws. with equal Il eat
ment in all religions: fourth. that the
Spanish monks quit the islands.
To this the commission of cardinals
replied that the interests of the monks
were insufficiently guarded, and there.
fore they made counter proposals, in
Guiding the following:
That America recognize the Catholic
Church schools and that they continue
to be managed by the monks; that thu
monks be allowed to remain OF leave
at their option.
Cardinal Rampolla communicated
the above to Judge Taft on the 2lst.
but Judge Taft said he did not desire
TO discuss the new proposals, not hav-
ing authority to do so. He therefore
presented. on the 26th. another note,
slightly modifying his earlier propos-
ais, but avoiding any religious discus
sion.
Cardinal Rampolla replied, practical
ly repeating his previous proposals
whereupon Judge Taft broke off nego-
tiations and cabled to Washington fol
further instructions.
Judge Taft's secretary said today to
the correspondent of the Hearst news
papers:
The difference which has arisen De'
tween the American Government and
the cardinals commission is not of a
nature to cause a collapse of negotia'
tions. The cardinals commission. in
stead of replying to the points raised
in a concise and business-like fashion
answered too vaguely. Judge Taft, or
the other hand, wishes. before every
thing. that no ambiguity shall by ANY
possibility breed contentious in The
future.
lit is hoped Pope Leo will settle the
whole question without any detailed
consideration of the views put forward
by the cardinals"
Judge Taft refuses to discuss th'
matter in detail, but told the Hears
newspapers correspondent that every
thing would be settled.
Those influential in the inner circle
of the Vatican encourage the belief
however, that. Notwithstanding Pop
Leo's wish. settlement is impossible.
Washington, July l3.-"lt is a mere
matter of business"
This Is the way the War Department
describes the negotiations in progress
with reference to the friars and thei
lands in the Philippines.
This Government has always beef
anxious to disavow that the negotia
lions between Governor Taft and tn
Vatican partook either through tech
acter Of diplomatic proceedings. Moth
ing, so far as can be learned, has beef
said in the way of protest, but Their
has always been the impression tina
diplomatic relations with the Vatican
would be distasteful to the Italian
Government, the United States helm
one of the powers that do not recogniz
a nuncio or an apostolic delegation Off
cially.
The question at issue concerning tn
friars is one of great delicacy. Here !
the way it is understood here:
This Government having admitte
the force of the ninth article of tn
treaty of Paris. cannot insist on tn
| ~ DNl6lbl VI Nut lllul . NlllLtHa VI
Spain, without offense to that country
The elected friars would have claim
against the United States, If they wer
expelled.
There are two ways out of the diil
Guilty. One Of these is that the Presi
dent take up the matter PERSONAL
with Pope Leo and secure the volun
tary withdrawal Of the friars with per
haps an increase Of payment for tn
lands. The other is that of the Philip
pine Government bill be enforce
whereby it is possible to condemn an
sell the lands of the friars. The sec
ond method is not regarded with favo
because it does not dispose of the ques
ton of what to do with the friars TIL
) President may succeed in obtaining
through His Holiness a decree froI
the heads of the orders requiring tn
frars to withdraw within a certai
time.
London, July l2.-COnfrming tn
! 81 a.