The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-07-13
Austrian and Spanish Envoys to Submit the
Memorial or Brief to the Hague
Peace Conference.
Pontiff Claims Sovereign Power and Shows
Wherein the Laws of Nations
Have Been Violated.

mot only wholly unwarranted. but, as it
was proved subsequently. absolutely
urjustitied. \ protest is also raised in
the memorial over the fact that after
the French government had agreed to
turn over the seized documents to the
Austrian Amba ssador in Paris. it failed
to do so. and entrusted only part Of
such documents into the hands of the
Austrian representative retaining yn-
lawful possession of the most import
ant among them from a. diplomatic
point of view
The memorial concludes with statina
that the Holy See is not asking for
any monetary compensation from the
French government. and that it does
not expect that government to even
| extend due apology for the outrages
| 1T has piled upon the Church within
| the past four years. but simply wishes
The Hague conference to consider the
matters submitted to it in a. spirit Of
! fair play. and to express a vote of CEN
sure if the actions OF the French gov.
eminent toward the Church should in
the opinion OF the delegates Justify
such an action.
1t is generally believed here that the
ronderous document submitted by the
Holy See to The Hague conference
may not receive due consideration from
a majority of the delegates to the con-
ference. but he laid on the table and
discussion over it postponed indefinite
ly because of the delicate questions IN
volved and the fact that many of the
AS England and Japan. are anxious to
maintain cordial relations with France.
| at any rate. Vatican prelates are
generally of the opinion that the Pope
and his Cardinal Secretary of state
have executed a master stroke of dip
lon1atic policy. not only in presenting
their grievances directly to all the
most important nations of the world,
but also in being successful in the
quest Of two Catholic governments
which would consent to present their
protest to the great council Of nations.
| According to prelates in position to
know. the Holy See did not neglect to
assert its right in the document to be
presented at the peace conference. but
declined the privilege under the present
circumstances because Of the fact that
1t has submitted matters Of personal
| interest to the consideration of the
conference. 1t is we'll known here that
the Vatican authorities. notwithstand-
ing numerous statements which have
lappeared in the press, have not insist
ed on obtaining representation at The
Hague Conference. because of the in
formation which had reached the Vat
ican that the French government would
this year exert all its influence in order
to- prevent such a concession being
granted. The Dutch government re-
Gently sent. assurances to the Vatican
that it would not oppose the admission
Of a Papal representative at the con-
ference if other governments did not
object in the matter
When the first conference took place,
Pope Leo XIII. endeavored to obtain
admission. but his efforts were thwart-
ed by the Italian government, which
put forward the plea that the Pope was
no longer a sovereign. but simply a
subject OF the Italian kingdom, to
whom special privileges were granted
because of his dignity and position.
This same plea would have been made
a. the present conference by the French
government in order to exclude any
Representative of the Vatican from
sitting among the delegates. However.
i the Austrian Ambassador, who was
Ysemi- officially acknowledged by the
French government as the diplomatic
|agent of the Vatican. will be in posi-
ton to defend the claims Of the Holy
See at the conference. and to submit
the Diplomatic memorial.