Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-18
RESTS WITH POPE.
Sec. Root Ends Discussion of
the Friars Problem.
Vatican Willing, but Has Done Moth
ing to Relieve Difficulty.
United States Has Made Every Effort
to That End.

TO ! nat End.
Rome, July IL At noon Wednesday,
Major Porter personally delivered to
/ Cardinal Rampjolla. the Papal secretary
of state, the last note fudge Taft on the
subject of the withdrawal OF the friars
| from the Philippine islands, which will
presumably end the governors nego-
| tiations here, as Major Porter stimuli
! taneously presented a letter from
Judge Taft asking for farewell audi
| ence of the Pope The following is in
! part Judge Taft'S note to the Vatican:
| In reply to the two notes of Your
! Eminence of June q and July 9, have
/ just received a communication from
! the secretary of war in precise and e1-
haustive terms, which are here repro
duced integrally. Sec. Root says he is
| glad to see by the two notes received
from the Vatican that the Holy See is
animated by the best intentions to
come to an understanding with Wash
| ington about the relations between
| church and state in the Philippines.
| that His Eminence has declared the
| Vatican to be disposed of to give clear
and precise instructions to the friars7 to
| occupy themselves with religion, abb
staining entirely from politics, and
that the Holy See proposes to intro
duce, little by little, ecClesiastics OF
! other nationalities, especially Ameri-
can. Sec Root adds that he cannot dc
| less than acknowledge the wisdom OF
these propositions, but that he must
/ observe that they do not solve the
question.
THE United States has no desire to
violate the treaty of Paris, and seeks
not a fOrcible, but q voluntary with
| draWal Of certain persons, who happen
| to be SDaniardS and whose previous
| experiences in the islands had fortui
| touSly thrown them into antagOniStic
relations With the people and with the
Catholic laity and native clergy, many
Of whom have left their parishes and
can only be reinstated by using mater
| ial force, which the United States
| cannot permit. This proves that the
government of the Philippines has no
intention 10 propose measures contrary
to the interests of the Vatican and in
fact, it's interest in the church.
| IF the question of withdrawal be
| left unsolved, now that the Washing
| ton government has persuaded the &C.
| cleSiaStical authorities to see the neceS-
sity of carrying out this step, the later
withdrawal of the friars under orders
of the religious superior could not be
regarded as anything but voluntary
| and would not violate the treaty OF
| Paris. Nor would such order be re-
| garded as affirming or admitting any
/ accusations against the friars, because
| the American government made no
such accusation. The United States
! did not desire the withdrawal for itself
it was Indifferent TO the presence Of
! the friars-but in the interest of the
whole people of the Philippines who
were bitterly opposed to their pres
| ence.
at was thought by the generous pro
posal of a contract which would bind the
| Philippine government to certain finan
cial and other obligations to secure the
much longed for desire Of the Philippine
people in the withdrawal of the friars.
Now that The Vatican does not see its
| way clear to make a definite withdrawal
| the American government has deemed it
wiser to recur to tie methods Of settle
ment OF the various questions at issue
suggested by Cardinal Rampolla'S first
communication Of June Dist. namely:
'FIrst-An investigation by both sides
into the possible and probable liabilities
and claims and the settlement OF them
by an accredited apostolic delegate with
/ the governor in Manila, after the cond-
lions with respect to the titles of the
friars to the lands and the amount Of
claims for rental have been presented
by the representative Of the church to the
representatives Of the Philippine govern
mcnt in Manila.
las to the Indemnity for the friars'
lands. His Eminencc has nointed out the
clfficulty OF computing so precipitatclY
the exact value, but this might be dona
by examining the title deeds. The Wash |
inSton government will Immediately order |
the general commanding the forces in the |
Philippines to furnish all information |
necessary to ascertain what damaS has |
been done by the military occupation. AL |
though regretful that all the questions |
lave not been decided definitely the gov
eminent is glad to express satisfaction |
at the results obtained
Sec. Root in his communication de-
clareS that Judge Tafts journey is quite |
compensated for by the fact that it is
possible TO fix general lines on which |
later can be amicably resolved all the
questions now pending Meanwhile. as Il
preliminary. he wishes Cardinal Ram
poia to send to the Philippine govern
ment four lists of the property considered
to belong to the religious orders com
prising:
One-That transferred to CORPORATIONS
TwO-The ecclesiastical buildings occu.
pied by the troops, with Indications of the
damage and compensation therefor.
hree-Ine property before considered
Spanish crown lands which it is desired
the American government should trans.
fer to the church. though Washington |
NIL grant such transfers only on condi-
ton that a satisfactory agreement he
reached on all other questions.
FoIr-Thc charitable and educational
institutions which the Vatican desires to
be considered as belonging to the church
Sec. Root concludes by instructing
Judge Taft to express to Cardinal Ram !