The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-13
PROTEST
AGAINST SEARCH
PapaI Secretary of State Issues
Statement on Action of the
French Government.
BITTER ARTICLE PUBLISHED
INSPIRED PUBLICATION AssAILS
ACTION OF FRENCH.

Rome, Dec. 12.-CardinaI Merry del
Val, the Dapal secretary Of state, is
preparing a vigorously worded protest
against the action of the French gov
erument in searching the archives OF
/ the nunciature at Paris. This protest
will be handed TO the members of the,
/ diplomatic body accredited to the vat
lean. The secretary of state sets forth.
among other things. that the incident.
| in question IS the first instance in his
tory of such violation of the rights
of man.
The OsservatOTe Romano has pub
Eshed an article whic was composed,
at the vatican. This article declares
that the violent and Odious measures
taken by the French government
against MOnsignor MOntagnini,v who
was merely the guardian of the arch
ives of the nunciature at Paris. consti-
tutes case of exceptional gravity. 1t
was impossible to foresee or conceive
of such measure. 1t will have its
echo in the condemnation and protest
of impartial people, not only in France,
but in every other country, says the
article. 1t represents 1.-The last and
most brutal step in a situation pre-
pared by the government of the French
republic. When it was intended to
leave the churches in France to the
clergy the article continues. the
French government imposed conditions
which could not be accepted without
an INDIGENOUS surrender of the rights
I of the church. The French government
wanted war. The first shot fired, as
/ Premier Clemenceau calls it. shows
that injustice and absurdity are COM
/ peting together shamefulIy The fOrci-
bic entrance of the residence of Mon
/ signOr Mcntagnini besides being un-
justified, is absurd. and it is also alb
surd that the stronghold of the church
should not have guardian for the
archives relating to 10000 600 French
men.
Didn't Violate coneordat.
1T is true the pope appointed bish-
/ ops without consulting the French gov
eminent" the article goes on. accord
IL this matter being impossible, but the
pOntiff did not violate the concordat or
renounce 1t. In any event and even
admitting that the regulations Of the
concordat had ceased to be operative,
the situation did not authorize the viO-
lating of the vatican archives, which
contained documents of interest to 9TH
er states besides France.
The French government has refused
TO see IN the pope a common father
and considers him only as foreign
sovereign. Well. this foreign sovereign
has the right that his house should not
be violated and his archives and papers
! be not touched or searched by any
one declares the newspaper when
such an affrOnt has been Derpetrated
ne has the right, without awaiting the
judgment of history, TO denOunce it be-
| fore the tribunal of the civilized world
as a gTatuitOus offense, an offense.
however, which will bring more shame
and harm to those who commit it than
10 those upon whom it is inflicted. The
French government is grossly mis-
taken if it thinks with such procedure
/ to intiInidate the French clergy or to
break down The dutiful and legitimate
resistance Of the church. This rude
offense TO the supreme authority of the
pOntiff is but "A new argument for him
to continue bravely in the same path
Sympathy for Pope.
There is a broad and far-reachinz
movement on foot to express sympathy
and with loyalty to the pope under the
present circumstances, and expressions
of such sentiment are being received
from churchmen all over the world,
from cardinals down to the humblest
priests In Rome, however, the mani
festations of sympathy are not unina-
nous, for today the anti-celical clubs
raised flags aloft, tonight their build
ings Illuminated, and they have issued
manifestoes to celebrate what they
term the triumph of civil liberty
Some anti-celricals even attempted to
placard the cOlonnades of st. Peters
with anti-vatican inscriptions, but they
were prevented by the police. An anti
clerical demonstration is being organ
lied for next Sunday. The authorities
probably will not allow it to be held
in public. but il may be permitted il
held in hall with tickets of admission
The vatican is convinced that the
French government. with what church
officials call BRANDS Matchmaking
circular" and the offense against the
rights of man committed when the gov
eminent expelled MOnsignor Montag-
mini and took possession of the papaI
archives. has placed the position main
tanned by the church on sound basis.
which insures her the moral support Of
all rightminded people. Referring ~
this support. Cardinal Merry Gel Val
the papal secretary Of state. said;
1T is essential to victory
Successor Is Named.
The vatican has already designated
another prelate TO take the place Of
MOnSlgnOr MontaSnlnl for the purpose
o. facilitating communication between
the holy see and the French episcopacy
and clergy. The name of this man.
however, is kept secret to avoid per
secution.'
Several months ago MOnsignor Mon
ta gnini asked the papal secretary of
state to allow him to return to ITALY
because of the death of his mother. Tho
secretary replied that he would be glad
II grant this permission, but De wanted
Monsignor Montagnini TO consider
whether it would be opportune TO leave
his post at a moment when the French
government might seize the occasion
not to allow him to re-enteT France
Monsignor MGntagnini therefore re-
manned at his post. This incident is
Continued on Page 2.