The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-11-12
THE POPE AS ARBITRATOR.

History would be only repeating itself if in this
twentieth century the pope was selected as ar
btrator between nations, not alone for the weak,
but for the most powerful. Not long ago it was
given out although unoficialy, that Plus X. would
cheerfully send a representative to The Hague if
the signatory powers consented We now know
why the late pope was not represented at the first
session at The Hague. 1t was through an under
standing between Italy and England, the latter
agreeing to oppose the consent of the pope if the
former opposed the consent of the Boer republics
to a voice in the tribunal At that time England
was engaged in war to exterminate the Beers,
and the United States had not concluded its war
with Spain.
This insult to the Catholic Church was shared
by every peace-loving individual in the world for
none like the popes have succeeded so admirably
as arbitrators. Not long ago it was reported that
the German emperor, through intermediary had
asked the pope whether he would consent, in the
event of being asked, to arbitrate between Russia
and Japan. What answer was given is not known
The story may be only rumor, naturally arising
from the wisdom and fitness of such selection.
While this IS passed for rumor only, it is a fact
that the pope has been requested by the govern
ments of Brazil and Bolivia to allow Monsignor
Tonti, the papal nuncio at Rio Janeiro, to act as
president of an arbitration tribunal for the settle
ment of territorial questions between the two
countries.
Rev DR.. Henry Bran of New York, on the
subject Of papa arbitration, says war between
lions has several times been averted by the friendly
mediation of the pope. Pope Alexander VI.
Spaniard yet John. the king of Portugal, in the
beginning of the sixteenth century, accepted him
as a mediator i'll a dispute as to the boundary line
between Spain and Portugal in their South Ameri-
can possessions. Ferdinand, king CT Spain, was
the other party to the controversy Diplomacy had
been exhausted and imminent, when the
pope was asked to act mediator.
1t is not necessary to go back so far, though,
to find an instance where the pope has been sue
cessful mediator between two great powers, one
nation of opposite faith. About dozen years ago
a difficulty arose between Germany and Spain re-
garding the Caroline islands. That was a serious
matter. Much feeling existed in each country
against the other. All means of peaceable settle
ment through representatives of either government
had failed. Each country was getting ready for
war, and something unusual had to happen to pre-
vent it. Something more than unusual happened
something remarkable: in fact. 1t Bismarck
who once said, in addressing the Reichstag in re-
gard TO some Catholic question, Il viii not go to
Canossa," which was a scornful reference to the
recantation and pilgrimage of Henry " of Ger
many; yet when Emperor William agreed with
Spain to submit the question to the pope as arbi-
traitor and be bound by his decision, Bismarck an
nounced that they had recourse to the pope as
sovereign; dignity that history and law and right