The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-12
FRENCH CHURCH WAR BEGINS.
CLEMENCEAU AGGRESSIVE AND
DEPUTIES BACK HIM Up.
Cabinet Resolves 70 Garry Out Rigid Pro-
gramme OF BRAND PapaI On1ciaI
4 Expelled and Papers seized - NO
Violence So Far-POpe Trusts In Heaven

Special Cable Despdichss 10 TIE sun,
PARIS, Dec. 1.-THE war between Church
and State has come at last. As vet there
has been no outbreak Of violence, but overt
acts lave been begun by the Government
and Prime Minister Clemenceau has flung
the gage Of battle before the churchmen
who challenged him to declare or explain
himself.
More acute than ever il the question OF
what the morrow will bring forth. There
is. however, not the slightest agitation mani
fest in Paris or in the departments. 30 far
as heard from this evening. save only In
journalistic discussion. This continues az
lively as ever, but 80 far without the intern
perate heat OF other times. Besides, tn,
discussion in the Chamber enlivened tbs
closing oment OF this afternoon session.
Far from being embarrassed by the pre-
cipitation OF a parliamentary discussion.
the Government apparently courted its
immediate development, and the result,
so far as was known to-day. disclosed that
the Government was well suppo1ed among
the Deputies in its attitude of frmness,
even to the point of defiance which NJ.
Clemenceau declared on Sunday.
As then cabled to Ia SUN, the Trims
Minister observe on the news Of the Popes
Instructions:
IF the Church wa 1t. war she will have Il.
She will get it to-day"
He told the Catholics in the Chamber:
81 - N. SOL, u,:.h, W, ava obnaap
and il begins to-day"
When after this sharp dec sration tn,
Church. partisans sought TO secure tho
Chambers registration OF feeling by plead
ing the urgency Of the question the Chamber
refused to denominate the moment as an
urgent one and rose instead.
Meanwhile the abode of one OF the Pope's
chief servants had been searched under
process and his papers seized, and it 10
reported, so far without contradiction, that
the Pope's special messenger. bearing secret
instructions to the French clergy, had been
arrested on the border, his papers oou-
G~catei and his escort sent back TO the
frontier.
In Paris, the churches were as quiet IA
though normal conditions had not-been
disturbed.
VI. Clemenceau's exposition in ths
Chamber of the Governments intep-
ions to respond to what it considered
the first act of war was brought out by
a question asked by NJ. Groussau, Deputy
for Lille, who is professor Of law in the
Catholic University there.
The Government had to-day. through
its judicial officers, searched the abode OF
Mgr. Montagnini, formerly secretary to
the Papal Nuncio, who, since the abolition
OF the nunciature, has remained there in
charge of the archives. Mgr. Montagnini
appealed 10 the Italian Embassy for pro-
lection as an Italian subject.
The news quickly spread, and NJ, GrousssI
announced that he would bring the matter
up in the Chamber. NJ. Clemsnoeau how
-ver, was engaged in the Senate, which
caused delay. When he r eentered tlIs
Chamberi was filled Immediately and the
excitement wa feverish. Word was passed
to NJ. Groussau, who mounted the tribune
amid the keenpet attention. He said ha
wished t. question the President Of the
Council regarding the search of the nunci-
ature He added:
You have, VI. Clemenceau, written adj
mirable pages against arbitrary search,
yet YOU have seized diplomatic documents
in a dwelling that were formerly covered
10y eStraterritoriality. From what motive?
! find your reason in the Ministerial clrcu-
lar accusing Catholics Of unlawfuiness ami
ilepality rather than in your passing the
text Of one law into another. We Catholics
do not plav politics, but defend the liberty
of our religion. The president Of the CoDn-
Gil has lone grievousl? in striking where
he thought 10 strike the head Of the Catholic
Church"
Al fu,o,,, rarliod that tho EnNartN-
ment had not searched the Nunciature,
for the Nunciature had not existed since the
denunciation of the COncordat No. ~
Rue Elvsec was in his ewes like any other
house. Mgr. Moutsgnini occupied it with
out an Official title, He guarded the archives,
but he did more. He received Instructions
from Cardinal Merry del Val and trans
mitted the POpe's orders to the Bishops az
France. The Prime Minister added:
Il believe l have the right to end this
international correspondence. Our inten-
tons were moderate. You responded with
refractory words as il you alone had the
right to strike blows, never TO receive
them. We will combat Roman politics.
There nave been also other acts. Three
Paris cures received orders TO violate the
law of 1905
We will assure the supremacy Of the
civil law. You sought war. You will have
it, and We begin to-day. Applause from
the Left This is only the first gunshot.
1 appeal for public peace before there IA
war to a finish. With this good counsel
! think well Of the future Of the ideas you
represent.
The law Of 1881 was not made with any
idea Of separation. We offer it to you. Take
it. II not, it is war, and you have willed IT,"
NJ. Groussau replied that the Catholics
would not recoil before Freemasonry.
! NJ. Massabeau proposed amending tbs
law OF 1881 in the interest of religious peace
He asked that the proposal be granted
urgency. The Chamber declined and tbs
session ended amid considerable agitation
The particulars Of the accusations agains
the three cures referred TO by NJ. Clemen
ceau were not made public in the Chamber
but the Court, where the proceedings origi
7 mated records that complaints were mad
I auafnaV thann enr nofad a1oa an nora DOrnunttka|