The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-10
SAYS CHURCH CAN HAVE WAR.
CLENENCElT IPPROTES IIGOR-
OLS ACTION TO- UORROH.


lion Of Declaration by Priests.
Special cable Despatch 70 THE SUN,
PARIS, Dec. 9.-The Associations law will
40 into operation on Tuesday. Prime Min
lister Clemencesu. NJ. BRAND. Minister of
Education and Public Worship, and NJ.
Desssignc, Minister Of Justice. held a long
conference this afternoon and decided upon
the terms of definite Instructions in regard
to the law, which will be sent to all the small
tribunals of the country to govern their
action in matters pertaining to Church dis
putes,
In an interview this evening Prime Minis
ter Clemenceau said!
IF the Church wishes war she will have it.
/ cannot but be struck by one thing. Here
is the law OF 1881 governing public assem-
blages. All the French people have OBJ
served this law until now the Pope tells
the clergy: You will not recognize this law
You will violate IL Immediately
-An who were inclined to obey the law
will now disregard it and bow under Rome's
order. Is not that a startling proof that
aside from the regular authority of the
country there ia another power seeking to
usurp the law? That is a condition that
cannot endure"
NJ. Clemenceau lie strongly sustaining the
position Of NJ. BRAND in regard TO making
the new law effective. NJ. Dessaigne stated
tonight that energetic Instructions would
be telegraphed tomorrow to an officials
charged with the enforcement of the law.
That the French p~relates received yester-
day instructions from the Pope iorbidding
any declarations as demanded by Minister
BRAND, under either the law OF 1881 or 1905,
became known only late last night through
the hurried action of Cardinal Lecot. Arch
bishop Of Bordeaux. in notifying his priests
thereof and bidding them observe the
Pope's ruling instead OF following his
Necot's) previous Instructions 10 act under
the law Of 1881.
The Cardinal sent an urgen notice to the
clergy in which he avowed al! haste, saving
the Pope's order had Just been received
and il necessitated his countermanding the
note he had sent them only on Friday.
This demonstrstes that Cardinal Lecot
at least was surprised by the vatican's
final determination. which, il would seem
must necessarily precipitate a conflict in
stead OF permitting the clergy to take
advantage OF the Governments tentative
efforts to forestaIl an open clash.
The Pope's instructions also directed the
clergy to continue public service in the
churches. This alters the whole aspect OF
the situation, which until just now looked
quite peaceful. Now. as months age, IL
looks as though a d~eplorable strife may
break out acutely this week.
This view is taken by Minister BRAND
who %nounc this afternoon thai the
situation is made very different from what
il was when he outlined the Government Z
policy in the Chamber Of Deputies. He
added that he has taken measures for any
eventuality. He says:
in brutally ordering the clergy to reject
the Governments conditions the Pope
pushes them outside the law. He orders
them to violate the laws Of their country
and forces them into ways OF violence and
disorder. He does not act as a spiritua
chief, for the canonical motives leading tc
the rejection Of the laws of 1905 I'M be-
invoked against the law of 1881.
THE Pope's new attitude is that of a
political chief. The question now is if the
French clergy will follow him that far
In that case the Government will move with
energy equalling the liberation It ha:
heretofore shown
Most OF the priests announced to-day
the Popeis instructions az high mass. snc
asked their pensioners to stand .unitedly
with them in the difficult times commencing
ROME, Dec. s.-The correspondent OF
The SUN learns from an authorized sourcs
that the reports of a rapprochement between
France and the Vatican are Unbound ed
The Pope has determined to make no con
cession and not to desist from his policy
OF resistance to the separation law unless the
law itself, not its application. be altered.
Had any attempt been made to oper
direct negotiations with the Vatican the
Pope would have willingly consented 10
reconcile the rights of the Church with the
provisions of the law. but as none was made
the Vatican will not change its attitude oil
resistance. II " likely that a document
will shortly be published by the Vatican
containing the Pope's final decision, but tbs
form of the document has not yet been de
| Cided upon.