The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-02-10
EUROPEAN NEWS
FRANCE AND THE VATIcAN-CON.
FRATERNITY OF ATHOLIC
YOUTH OF BORDEAUX-cENTRE
PARTY HOLDS ITS POSITION
BELFAST INTOLERANCE CAR
DiNAL BoURNE's RECEPTION
THE SOUTHWARK DIOCESE.

The fall of the Cailleaux cabinet and
the difficulty in constituting it's sue
cessor has turned many eyes to France
this week. It is said that the Vatican
regrets the fall of the ministry, be-
cause, for some time lately, under the
direction Of M. Barrere, negotiations
which seemed to have every chance of
success have been going forward for
the restoration of official relations be-
tween it and the government of the
Republic. French diplomatists consid-
cred that they had lost prestige in the
world of great powers by the absolute
rupture with the Holy See. In spite.
however, of numerous attempts by va
rious politicians since the rupture of
the concordat the Pope has always
firmly and consistently refused, very
properly, to have anything to do with
the matter unless an Ambassador of
high official character was sent
openly to him. The French govern
ment had conceived the plan of send
ing to Rome a Charge d'Affaires whose
special mission would be to treat with
the Vatican on all questions relative
to the protectorate of Christians in
the East. In consequence of the Italo-
Turkish war these interests are for
the moment very important. 1t was
intended to suggest M. Bombard,
French Ambassador at Constantinople,
as the man who with the approval of
the Holy See would be invested with
the protection not only of French but
also of Italian Christians. Men of
sarcastic turn of mind will smile at
the sudden solicitude shown by
country which has done it's best to
stamp Christianity out within it's own
boundaries. It may mean two things,
either that the noble Catholics of
France are too strong for the infidels,
or that the latter wish to use the Vati-
can in diplomatic coup. One thing
is sure, that the Vatican is perfectly
we'll aware of the real motive of this
move and is prepared to act accord
ingly
France and the Vatican.
The pourparlers begun by M. de
Selves had already gone so far that
the French government had submitted
to the decision of the Vatican the
name of the Charge d'Affaires. For
various reasons the choice had not
been ratified by the Roman authorit-
les. It is earnestly hoped in France
that the new Ministry will take up the
project of the preceding Cabinet and
bring it to successful issue in the
near future. It would, of course, be a
great satisfaction to all French Catho-
lies to see the Republican Government
take a first step towards the re-estab-
lishment Of an understanding with
Rome. Unfortunately the matter is
now being discussed in the French
press, and various Ministers are con-
tradicting each other in their state
ments. A member of the late Cabinet
has given the name of M. Denys Co
chin as the proposed Charge d'Affaires.
M. Cochin, however, denies this and
says he has never been sent to Rome
nor has he brought any reply to Paris.
The one fact which stands out in all
this is that the Vatican will not have
any secret dealings in the matter.
France must not be ashamed of that
she is about to do, she must send
openly an honorable representative
and the Vatican will willingly receive
him.
Confraternity of Catholic Youth.
| Under the patronage of Cardinal
Andrieu, the Confraternity of the
Catholic Youth of Bordeaux have been
holding an unusual and remarkable
public conference or Apologize" the