Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-01
RUSSIA SENDS A
new AMBASSADOR
| T0COURT At ROME
Mission Is to Restore, If
Possible, Friendly Rela-
tions Between Russian
Government and Vatican.
BY Horny Wood.
(Rome Correspondent OF the United

|
(Rome Correspondent Of the United
Press)
Rome. Nov. 30.--With diplomatic re-
lations between the Vatican and Rus
STA on the verge Of rupture Russia has
Just sent to Rome a new ambassad dor.
Count Nelidoff, whose task it will be,
II he cannot actually prevent the rup-
ture. NO see, at least. how long he can
stave 1t OF.
The situation in which the church
the close Of the Russian Japanese war.
In order to allay somewhat the discon-
tent Of his subjects Gear Nicholas il
was obliged to issue a ukase of relig-
ious federation. At once some 100000
members Of the governments Orthodox
church returned to the fold Of the Ro-
man Catholic church and since then
Catholic missionaries have converted
several hundred thousand more.
Gear 10 Displsassd.
This weakening Of the state church
has been very displeasing to the Gar
and he has notified the pope that his
ukase did not contemplate the right IF
missionary work by other churches
amongst his Orthodox population. On
his part. Pope Plus has responded not
only declaring the work of the mission
aries to be perfectly legitimate but
also charging that from the moment OF
the issuance Of the ukase. the Russian
government by persecution and gov
ernmental regulations has sought con-
stantly to nullify its effects.
According to the pope. although the
ukase guarantees Catholics the right
Of unmolested manifestation OF their
religion, the government has placed
innumerable restrictions on pro-
cessions,, pilgrimages and other pub
lie expressions Of Catholic life.
He adds that the government has
| rendered almost impossible the building
| OF new Catholic churches and nearly
| all Of the Catholic religious orders in
Russia have either been suppressed or
placed under such restrictions that they
must either die out or find themselves
| unable to fulfill their missions.
Must Hexs Permission.
Missionaries and priests are now for
hidden to enter Russia without special
| permission from tho government, which
| it is asserted is rarely IL ever granted,
while even the bishops now residing in
Russia are denied tire right to pass the
| boundaries OF their dioceses. Three
bishops, the pope declares, have been
] deprived Of their jurisdiction because
| they could not fulfill the requirements
| Of the minister Of the interior, while
/ the latter Is also asserted to have is
| sued an order declaring that ponti-
| fetal DEGREES and ordinances cannot be
| promulgated in Russia without first
! being passed upon by the government.
| These are few of the things which
the new Russian ambassador to the
| papal court Is to be called upon to eX-
plain in a satisfa ctory manner If he T.
to prevent an open rupture of diplo-
matte relations With his government.
While the task promises to be diff
cult one, Vatican experts are finding
advance consolation for Count Nelidoff
| in the fact that whether he succeeds or
not. the mere fact that he has been
sent as amba ssador t. the Vatican
practically insures him a successful
diplomatic career.
Although the post of ambassador to
the Vatican ranks very low in the
Russian diplomatic service, 1t is be-
ing pointed out that the car in every
case since the resumption Of diplo-
matte relations with the Holy Sea in
1894, has selected for the place a man
Of unusual ability, who Immediately
after his recall was given an impor-
tant diplomatic post.