The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-18

the apostolic delegate will be instructed upon all the matters touched upon m the memorandum to come to an agree ment with the American authorities ana secure a just settlement.
 Following the course thus proposed by his eminence, and having secured full and definite enumeration of the va rious parcels of the property in which the religious orders are interested and which they are willing to sell, it will be the duty of the Philippine government to determine for itself what price it is willing to pay. That price will, or course. be largely affected by the prac- tica' benefits to be derived from the purchase in view of all the facts then existing. This course also makes It possible to take into due consideration the fact, which now appears, that, con- trary to our former supposition, the real and substantial title to the lands, in a great measure, has passed out of the religious orders and is vested in corporation which they cannot entire ly control and which hold the lands for the purpose of lawful gain and are alone competent to sell them. It may well be that the prices which you will feel justified in offering for the lands will be acceptable. The whole matter may thus be disposed of by friendly agreement, in conformity to the ordi- nary methods pursued in business af- fairs. I believe that the good under standing which has been reached be- tween you and the ecclesiastical au- i thorities in Rome cannot fail to do away with the probability of friction or 1 difficulty In the same manner l Will direct the general commanding in the Philippines to ascertain, by the GUS | tomary methods, what buildings be- 1 longing to the church have been occu- pied by American people and for what periods; what damage has been done and in each case what reasons. ii any,
 exist for denying an obligation to pay
 rentals and damages; and I shall hope that the conclusion thus reached will be
 satisfactory to the church.
 "A similar treatment of all these sub- 1 jects mentioned in your proposition may with equal readiness be followed. | While it is to be regretted that the authorities having control of the rellg- l ious orders do not see their way to make definite agreement for the with drawal from Manila of the friars for merly in the parishes, yet it is hoped that pending the settlement of these various matters they will reach the con- 1 clusion that it is wise to do the same thing of their own motion and irrespec- 1 tive of any agreement to that effect. However that may be, you should as- sure the authorities of the church that
 we shall at all times do all in our pow
 CT to continue the good understanding already reached and to agree upon such
 action as shall be for the benefit of all; and further assure them of our high
 appreciation of the courtesy and con- sideration with which the expression of 1 your views and wishes has been receiv- ed.
 l AS preliminary to the treatment now
 proposed it is desirable that the author 1 ities of the church should arrange to
 forward to you as soon as practicable 1 full and definite lists (a) of the proper
 ty which they are willing to sell and of the precise relations which they hold to 1 the title of those properties; if their re- 1 lation to the title is by ownership of the
 stock, then the total stock of corpora
 ton, amount of stock which they hold,
 and the officers of the corporation; (b)
 of the churches convents, etc, which
 they claim to have been occupied by
 American troops, and for which rentals
 or damages are claimed, and with the
 details of the claim; Co of the church
 properties, formal title to which re-
 mained in the Spanish crown at the
 time of cession. and formal conveyance
 of which from the government is desir- ed It should be observed as to these
 that no authority has been granted by
 congress to make such conveyance un-
 less it be a part of general settlement | including purchase of the lands; (d) a
 statement of the various charitable and
 educational trusts which the authorities
 of the church consider should be re- garded as devolved upon the church
 rather than upon the state.
 l (Signed) Root"