Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-16
Will Leave Next Week.

VIII Leave Next Week
One week from tomorrow Governor Taft
will sail away from Italy. resuming his trip
to Manila If the Vatican has by that date
concluded to accept the American terms
respecting the sale of the friars lands
and the withdrawal of the friars them
selves from the Philippines. the papers will
be signed by Governor Taft and the ar
Engagements VIII be regarded as closed. If,
on the other hand. the cardinals commit
tee. which is dealing with this important
matter. is unable to accept the terms prof
fered. or If it is not prepared to make
final answer. the governor will still pro-
coed on his way to Manila and the negotia-
tions will be suspended.
This decision ON the part of Secretary
Root. who is. after all. directly responsible
for the instructions daily forwarded to Gov
eTuur Taft at Rome. is probably the most
important outcome of his recent trip TO Oys-
ter Bay. where the subject was discussed.
Negotiations Suspended.
1t does not follow that Governor Taft's
resumption of his journey without signing
the papers of sale and withdrawal means
the absolute abandonment OF the negotia-
items on those points. Technically, they will
be regarded merely suspended. and SO
open TO resumption at any moment when
either of the principals has had change
o. mind sufficient to warrant a new prUpo-
sition-
Meanwhile there will be no change of the
status of the friars orders in the Philip
pines; their lands will remain in the pos
session of the inSular government and the
several hundred fr1ars who are tarrying in
Manila as charity charges upon other
branches of the church will probably re-
main there or gradually find their way to
another country.
Ii is regarded as certain by the adnInis-
tratiOn that they Will not undertake to re-
turn 10 their individual parishes in the
IniIlpDinpS for there is sufficient
In the insular government to protect their
Hives from the natives. and being duly
warned Of the danger, 1t is believed that
the local government will have thus re-
lieved itself from responsibility If they TN
dertake to return. Thus the situation from
the adminstra ton standpoint will not be
particularly distressing even If Governor
Taft does not carry away with him from
Rome a complete REIMBURSEMENT of the
land titles and undertaking to withdraw
the fridrs, and although it would much
rather close up the matter at this time. it
cannot but take the view that the respon-
s:bility for not doing so Will remain with
the Vatican.
Points in Note to Taft.
y high official of the government has
made a statement concerning the negntia-
lions pending in Rome. which emDodies the
points ca6led to Gov. Taft in the latest in
structI1ns as basis OF his reply TO the
Vatican. The statement follows:
In seeking through Governor Taft to Sc
cure the peaceful removal of the friars of
the four orders from the Philippine Islands,
Ii must be borne in mind that the Ameri-
can representatives in the Philippine Is
lands have merely been eudeavcring faith
fully TO carry out the wishes of the peo-
PIE. for which they feel the mseIves ptcu-
harry bound to st2nd.
IL must always lie remembered that il is
Rot the United States government which in
any way objects to the presence of the
1rlarS IL the islands: ii Is the Catholic pop
uiatIOn of these islands. The lay Catholics
almost to a man. and practically ali of the
parish priests, are violently opposed 10
The friars that they viii not permit them
10 come back to the parishes. and as d
matter of TACT hold their lands In hostile
posse SSiOn- one of the dyowed objects of
the lHsurrectlonaFy government under
AgUinddO was to cpniiScate the friars
lands without any compensation to the
church.
The United States authorities recognizing
the intensity and bitterness of this feeling
among the FilipinOs. and at the same time
being GeSlrOus of acting with the most sCru-
puiOus fairness toward the church, were
willing 10 arrange for the purchase of the
church lands by the government, il the
church authorities would withdraw the
friaTs twho are not, and for years have not
been, performing their religious functions
among the people, and would replace them
by other members OF the church who might
take UP with greater success the highly
necessary religious work which they are no
longer able To perform.