Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-18
YIELDED To- DEMANDS
It is Said That the Pope Will
DispIace Merry del Val.
BASIS FOR COMPLAINTS
Trouble in France Charged to Young
Secretary Of State.
ASSERTIONS OF THE CARDINALS
Claimed That Policies Pursued by the.
Church in Past Few Years Have
Not Been Advantageous.
BASIS FOR COMPLAINTS
ASSERTIONS OF THE CARDINALS

Private advices received from Rome re-
veal the interesting fact that the relations
Of the vatican with several foreign powers
are about to undergo a notable change.
From authoritative sources 1t Is learned
that Cardinal Merry del Val, secretary or
state for the vatican, will be asked to re-
sign his post. In fact, rumors current In
Rome declare that the resignation has al
ready been presented to the pope and &C
cepted.
According to the adyices, several Of the
more influential cardinals have told his
holiness that the politics followed by the
church during the last three years has
not been advantageous to them To this Is
added the recent troubles with France. at
trfbuted to the youth and inexperience or
Merry del Val.
Rampolla a Leader.
In fact, at the Vatican it is admitted that
the pope has considered these complaints.
and has found that they We're not entirely
baseless Among the more insistent
cardinals. Cardinal Rampolla. the diplo-
mat of the holy see, has taken the
lead. The other members of the sacred
college were already not disposed to ac-
cept a Spanish cardinal. and when Plus X
appointed del Val secretary of state his
colleagues declared that his politics would
not be for the best interests of the church.
The experience of del Val in diplomacy
Is very limited. He held only the position
of apostolic delegate in Canada. and in
the Dominion he gave insufficient proofs of
his ability diplomat especially IN
relation to the school question.
Able Statesman Needed.
The holy see in so far as its politics goes
according to the information received,
needs an able states-churchman to direct
Its affairs. This need has been spoken of
by all the great men of the world. Such
man. it Is held, can couple without shock
the interests of the church with the more
complicated ones of the foreign powers.
Although the spirit of the various govern
ments Is unusually liberal in matters re-
ligious, there may always occur bitches
that can be undone only by skillful hands
Cardinal Rampolla's friends say that he ls
the man needed.
Yet it is not believed that he will be
named secretary of state-at least not this
year-and this view is shared by all those
who should know. Although Rampola Is
generally wel-liked man, he has earned
for himself many bitter enmities, which
defeated his candidacy to succeed Leo XIII,
and these same infiuences-said to be Ger
man-play for his defeat as secretary OF
state. because Of his irreconcilable antag-
onsm to Catholic Pangermanism.
The Probable Selection.
For this reason, the advices state, it is
likely that one OF the cardinals. either
American or English, to be elected in June.
may take the foreign chair at the vatican.
The latest indication of Merry del Vars
fall from grace is his appointment as sec
rotary of apostolic Briefs where he may
remain in obscurity for the rest OF his
years.
At the apostolic delegation in this city
nothing is known of his reported resisna-
ton.