Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-31
FRENCH CABINET CONFUSED
Indscision as t, Course Follows Offer Of
Bishops to COMPROMISE Difficulties
1oDERATfs EMBARRASSED BY RADICALS
Remark of NJ Briand Does Not Ex-
cIude Possibility of Compromise,
but Plan H. stIn in
Doubt,

PARIS, Jan. 3O-The French cabinet
has hardly recovered from its surprise at
the proposition which the bishops, with
the approval of the pope, submitted TO the
government for modus vivendi on the
basis Of a virtual lease of the churches In
perpetuity to the parish priests by the
mayors and apparently some confusion eN-
lists as to what course to adopt.
While the ofrhand remarks Of Minister Of
Education BRAND In the chamber OF
deputies last night that the conditions pro-
posed in behalf Of the episcopate we're I'M
acceptable, do not necessarily exclude the
possibility of a compromise, the attitude
of the extreme radicals, who are incensed
at the perenptory tone of the communi-
cation and at the dispatches from Rome
representing the Vatican as being deter
mined, unless the bishops proposition Is
Immediately and unanimously accepted to
order the parish priests to leave their
churches and suspend public worship,
greatly embarrass the moderates. The
latter believe that the government, having
accomplished The separation Of church and
state, can afford to accept any definite
solution of the difficulties in the interest Of
peace
Public Meeting Bill Passed.
The chamber of deputies this evening
concluded the discussion of and adopted
the public meetings bill by a vote OF $50
| to5
Premier Clemenceau made further ex-
PLANTATION of the governments attitude in
the matter of the bishops declaration,
which he designated an 'insolent ulti-
| matum."
"If the eplscopate" he said, considers
| this basis for negotiation, we do not re-
spond. The bishops will not obtain any
| thing beyond the common law. We will
| not concede anything, but we will hold the
| line of battle with unexhausted resources"
The public meetings bill consists of four
/ sections. The first authorizes meetings
! without previous declaration of intention
! the second repeats the restrictions con-
! tanned in the ads of 1881. 1906 and 1907; the
third instructs the mayors of France TO
place the existing meeting places at the
| disposal of the public, and the fourth holds
the organizers of meetings responsible for
damage. The law will become operative as
soon as It passes the senate.
Comment of the Press.
Commenting on the situation, the Eclair
| today says:
"rhe moment for reflection has arrived.
| The Vatican offers a solution compatible
with It's dignity and duty. The indispensa-
bllity Of serious negotiations is demonstrated
by the vain and wicked quarrels, which
are jeopardizlng the national unity"
The Echo De Paris says:
THE means for pacifcaton have been
| offered If they are brutality rejected the
government will inevitably be driven to
persecution"
The Figaro says The whole world will
interpret the bishops proposition as a
| sincere desire for Cancellation"
The Gaulois says: m. Brands words
prove that the government breads final
rupture. Let 1t accept an honorable way
out of the difficulties"
NJ. Jaures, the socialist leader, In his
paper, Humanite, intakes the following
comment: 1T is a successful maneuver of
| the church, designed to furnish an excuse
| for suspending public worship upon the
pretext that the necessary guarantees arc
refused. The government cannot sign such
an abdioation."
The Aurore asserts that the bishops pro-
position is an ultimatum, adding: IF It is
| accepted, who will guarantee that the gov
eminent will not next be summoned to
| Canossa?'
The Radical expresses the hopes that
Premier Clemenceau and NJ. BRAND will
| ''avoid the trap and continue the prudent
and liberal policy the republican majority
| approves"
The Lanterne expresses the opinion that
the bishops proposition is "a new defiance
Of the law"