The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-08
Diplomatic Relations Between Rus
sla and the Vatican Were on |
tho Verge OF
Rupture.
NEW AMBASSADOR SENT
DISTINCTIONS placed In the Way o.
Catholic Movement In Russia
Has crsated Some
Anxiety.
IBy Henry Wood. Rome Correspond
ant az the United Press.]

|
emit OF the United Press.l
ROME, Dec. with diplomats
relations between the vatican ann
pussfa on the verge OF rupture. Rus
sia has lust sent to Rome new
amba ssador. Count Nelidoff, whose
task it will be, II he cannot actnaitp
prevent the rupture. to see. at least
how long he can stave 1t OF.
The situation in which the church
and Russia find themselves dates
from the close OF the Russian-Japan'
csc war In order to alay somewhat
the discomfort OF his subjects C2ar
Nicholas II was Obliged to Issue
ukase Of religious federation. At once
some 100000 members Of the govern
ment's orthodox church returned 70
the fold OF the Roman Catholic churcih
and since then Catholic missionaries
have converted several hundred thoust
and more.
This weakening of the state church
has been very displeasing to the
car and he has notified the pope that
his ukase did not contemplate the
right Of missionary work by other
churches amongst his orthodox popp-
lation. On his part, Pope Plus has
responded not only declaring the
work Of the missionaries to be per
fectly legitimate but also charging
that from the moment of the issuance
Of the ukase, the Russian government
by persecution and governmental
regulations has sought constantly to
nullify his efforts
! According to the pope, although the
4 ukase guarantees Catholics the right OF
unmolested manifestation OF .heir re-
ligion, the government has placed In
Vulnerable restrictions on professions,
pilgrimages and other public express
sions of Catholic life.
He adds that the government has
rendered almost impossible the build.
ing of new Catholic churches and
nearly all OF the Catholic religious
orders in Russia have either been sup
I pressed or placed under such restrio-
ltions that they must either die out or
find themselves unable to fulfill their
missions.
Missionaries and priests are now
. forbidden to enter Russia without a
special permission from the govern
4 ment. which it is asserted is rarely 1t
ever given, while even the bishops
now residing in Russia are denied
the right to pass the boundaries OF
I their dioceses. Three bishops, the
|, pope declares, have been deprived OF
Il their jurisdiction because they could
: not fulfill the requirements of the
i minister of the interior, while the
latter is also asserted to have issued
+ an order declaring that pontificial de-
t crees and ordinances cannot be pro
t. mulgated in Russia without first be
d ing passed upon by the government.
e These are few OF the things
s. which the Russian ambassador to the
= papa1 court is to be called upon to ex
II plain in satisfactory manner IL he
q is to prevent an open rupture of diplo
e. matte relations with his government
u While the task promises 20 be diff
7. cult one, vatican experts are findins
1T advance consolation for Count Nedi
10 loft in the fact that whether he sue
y ceeds or not, the mere fact that h,
d. has been sent as ambassador to tn,
n vatican practically insures him
% successful diplomatic career.
In Although the post OF ambassador t
O. the vatican ranks very low in tn
Russian diplomatic service, it is bein
Mt pointed out that the car in ever
ne case since the resumption OF diple
n matte relations with the Holy Sea i
le 1894, has selected for the place ma
90 Of unusuai ability, who immediatel
vs. after his recall was given an In
Sc portant diplomatic post.
ng
as Good Word for snobs.