The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-17
TAFT Us. VATICAN
Negotiations in Rome Are Brought
to an End.
MAY CONTINUE IN MANILA
The q. S. Government Not Opposed to
the Friars--It Is the Catholic
= Population Who Object. .= %

opJccts
Rome, July 1.-THE following is, in
part, Judge Tafts note to the vatican.
1t Is addressed to Cardinal Rampolla,
papal secretary of state, and begins thus:
In reply to the two notes of your eminence
Of June 81 and July 8, have just received
communication from the secretary of war,
which is here reproduced Secretary Root is
glad to see by the two notes received from the
Vatican that the holy see is DESTROYS of com
ing to an understanding with Washington
over differences between church and state in
the Philippines; that your holiness has ex-
pressed that the Vatican is disposed to give
full instructions to the friars to occupy them
selves with religion only, abstaining entirely
from politics. and that the holy see proposes
to introduce little by little ecclesiastlcs or
other nationalities, especially Americans. Sec
rotary Root adds that he cannot do less than
acknowledge the wisdom Of these PROPOSE
tions, but that he must observe that they
would not solve the questions
The United States has no desire to violate
the treaty of Paris, and seeks not forcible
but voluntary withdrawal of such persons
who happen to be Spanards and whose pre-
vious experiences in the islands had thrown
them into antagonistic relations with the
people and with the Catholic laity and native
clergy. many of whom have left their par
fishes and can only be reinstated by using ma
terial force, which the United States cannot
permit. This proves that the government OF
the Philippines has no intention to propose
measures contrary to the interests of the Vat
loan If the question Of withdrawal be left
unsolved, notwithstanding the washington
government has persuaded the eccleslastlcal
authorities to see the necessity OF carrying
out Of this step, later withdrawal Of the frlars
under order of the religious superior could
not te regarded as anything but voluntary,
nd violate the treaty or Paris,
nor could such order be regarded as affirming
or admitting any accusations against the III
ars because the American government MADE
no such accusation. The United States did
not desire the withdrawal for itsef-lt was
Indifferent to the presence of the friars-but
In the interest of the whole people of the
Philppines who were bitterly opposed to
their presence.
1t was thought by the generous proposal
OF contract which would bind the Philippine
government to certain financial and other
obligations, to secure the most longed-for de-
sire of the Philippine people in the Withdraw
ri Of the friars. Now that the Vatican does
not see It's way clear to make definite with
drawal, the American government mas deemed
1t wiser to recur to the methods OF settle
1neut OF the various questions at issue, sug-
gested by Cardinal Rampollas hrst communl-
cation OF June Il. namely:
First-An investigation by both sides into
the possible and probable liabilities ana
claims and the settlement OF them by an &C
credited apostolic delegate with the govern
mont of Manila after the conditions with re-
Bpect to the frlars' lands and amount OF
claims for rental have been presented to the
representative Of the Philippine government in
Manila.
As to the indemnity for the friars' lands
your erninence has pointed out the dlhculy
of computing 50 preciptately the exact 'alue,
but this might he done by examining the tltie
deeds, The Washington government will I'M
5ned,ately order the general commanding the
forces in the Philippines to furnish al! ln1or-
NATION necessary to ascertain what carnage
has been done by the military occupauon'
Although regretful that all the questions have
not been decided definitely. the government Is
Glad to express satisfaction at the results
obtained.
Secretary Root, in his communication,
declares that Judge Taft's journey is quite
compensated for by the fact that IL IS
possible to fix general lines on Whlcn
later can be amicably resolved all the
questions now pending Meanwhile, as
preliminary, he wishes Cardinal Ram
polla to send to the Philippine govern
nent four lists of the property conslo-
cred to belong to the religious order,
COMPRISING, first, that transferred to cor
porations; second, the ecclesiastical
huiIdings occupied BY the troops, with in
dications of the damage and compensa-
tion therefor; third, the property before
considered Spanish in the islands which
1t is desired the American government
should transfer to the church, though
WASHINGTON. will grant such transfers
only on condition that a satisfactory
agreement be reached on all other ques
tions; fourth the charitable and educa-
tional institutions which the vatican de-
sires to be considered as belonging to
the church.
Judge Taft concludes his note to the
vatican thus
In obedience to Secretary Roots dispatch,
request that the future negotiations on the
points raised be held in Manila between an
apostolic delegate and the governor, after the
Information suggested above by Secretary
Root has been ascertained and presented.
Surprise for the Vatican.
The vatican Is buzzing with comments
on the last American note, the contents
of which we're somewhat unexpected, as
1t was thought that Washington would
make counter propositions. majority
here regard the result as a serious foil
for papa. diplomacy, while others ex-
press the opinion that the friars will not
get in Manila better terms than those
offered here, and that the affair may end
in their being obliged to leave the aroht-
pelago with less money, as 1t would be
impossible to bring before the courts
the $4,000 tenants who occupy their lands,
paying no rental therefor This and the
partial failure Of the visit. to Rome OF
Judge Taft would be the last straw for
the religious orders, as it would be to
Justify the governments of France, Spain,
etc, which took measures against them
without having recourse to the vatican
influence of the Orders.
London, July 1.-THE Rome, CORE
spondent of the Morning Post says that
the failure Of Judge Taft's negotiations
with the vatican is attributed there to
the influence Of the heads Of the religious
orders, especially to the Jesuit cardinal,
steinhuber, and that the vatican is con-
sidered to have sacrificed splendid op-
portunity. c..
THE STATUS OF THE CASE