Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-22
Made to Powers Of The
World by the Vatican.
Emphatic Protest Against Course
Of French Government.
The Right Of Communication With
Catholics StoutIy Asserted.
IHF,HEEKIy[9dI.

Rome, Dec. 21.-A note signed by the
Paral secretary of state, Cardinal Mer-
~ De! Val, protesting against the
search of the Papal nunciature al
Paris. the expulsion Of MonSgrol
Montagnini and the seizure of the So
cret cipher, enabling the French gov
eminent to take cogniZancc of the Pa
pal correspondence and the alleged vi
olation Of the right Of the Pope to cor
respond with Catholics all over the
world. was presented to the diplomat
ic representatives. accredited to the
Vatican today together with a circu-
lar setting forth the motives of the
Holy See III the action it has taken re-
garding The application of the law OF
1908 providing for the separation of
church and state.
The following is the text of the sum-
mary Of the note issued by the Nati-
can:
9Th" papal secretary of state. Car
dinal Merry Del Val. has sent to all
;hc diplomatic representatives of the
Holy Sec for communication to their
respective governments protest
against the search executed by order of
the French government in the palace OF
the roEtifical representative ut Paris
ard carrying OFF the various docu-
mentS and also against the violent OK
pulsicn of MonsiSnor MontlSnini. The
protest sets forth the enormity of such
acts. which are without modern prec-
edent among civilized nations as even
when diplomatic relations cease it is
especially the archives of foreign rep
reScntativcs. The carrying off the cat
aiOGucG OF documents regarding The pc
RODS when Monsignor Clari ana Mon
Si@nor LorcnZclli were nuncioS at
Paris and the ciuhcr with which the
French government. by means Of copies
Nf tn" dispatches Kept by the French
tclcgrauhic Offices WAS able t. tax" cog
niZaEcc of all tn" cipher Geographic
correspondence between the Holy Sco
and MrnsiGnor L"rcmz"lli, constitutes
the r.ost grave offence not only against
tie Holy Soc but ag;tils; al the civil
lied powers which have I'll" highest in
trrest in their diplomatic secrets being
respected.
"Thc Holy See also protests against
the violation by the French govern
ment of the incontcstablc right Of the
Pontiff, q right inherent to the office Of
supreme head of the church, Of cores
pondinS directly or through given per-
sons with Catholics throughout tn,
whole world. whether bishops. priests
or laity, in all that relates to the spirit
ual good of Catholics.
Cardinal Merry del Val declares tC
be unfounded the pretext given by the
French government for its action
namely that Monsignor Montagnjni had
communicated with three parish priests
of Paris. who were to be tried for VIC
lations Of the law of 1905.
The Papal secretary of state. Cardi-
| nal Merry Del Val, today received the
members of the diplomatic corps ac-
credited to the Vatican and communi-
Gated to them the text of the Vatican
note. The cardinal requested the Prus-
sian, Russian and MONAGHAN ministers
to communicate the contents OF the
note to governments not having repre-
scntativcS at the Natican-Circat Brit
ain was the only country besides Italy
to which no communication was made
as not having a representative to the
Vatican or q Vatican agent in London
MOnSignor FalCOniO, the apostolic del
csatc in the United States, and Mon
siSnor Igucs, the Papal delegates in tho
| Philippines. although not accredited t.
| the United States or Philippine govern
mcntS. have been entrusted unofficial
| " to communicate the note to the au-
| thoritics alta Washington and at Ma
| Mia.