The Washington times., 1914-12-26
VATICAN AND FRANCE
MAY RESUME AM|TY
Negotiations Initiated by Pope
Benedict to Renew Friendly
Relations.
BY HENRY WOOD.

ROME. Nov. - (by mail to New
York).-The resumption Of diplomatic re-
lations between the Vatican and France
tc day became practically assured. when
IL became known negotiations TO that
end, initiated by Pope Benedict, have
already progressed to a most favorable
point.
The efforts of the Vatican in this d.
rection are regarded I'm Rome ~ only
one more example Of the quick. decisive
action which has marked every step OF
tine pontificate Of the new Pope As a
matter Of fact. this resumption OF Of
fetal relations between the Vatican and
Paris, important as II is in itself. is
only ono step in the bigger plan Of Pope
Benedict, to bring about a settlement of
the famous Roman question" and to
establish peace between the Vatican
and the Quirinsl
Pope Benedict's plan to this end pro-
vides for the Vatican having an Of
cal representative at the peace confer
ence which will adjust the affairs OF
Europe at the close of Tho present war.
Negotiations to attain this result have
already been opened directly with Eng
land, and K has now become desirable
that the Vatican also negotiate directly
with France. For the moment, owing
t. the rupture Of diplomatic relations
which has existed since the separation
OF the church and state in France, this
she cannot do.
1t ia also highly desirable for the
Vatican that when the peace conference
begins its labors that II be on friendly
relations with all of the powers thot
will be represented. At the present
time France is the only one of the
European nations engaged IN the war
With uh c
cord. Austria, Russia. Germany, Bel
GUM, and even Servia have regular am
bassadors accredited to the Vatican,
which in turn has ambassadors &C
credited to those courts.
Although England does not have these
official diplomatic relations with the
vatican, tho latter has direct communi-
cation with the British government
through Cardinal Bourne, archbishop Of
Westminster. For the peace conference
to be convened without the Vatican be-
ing in official relation with France
would unduestionably prove a great
drawback to Pope Benedicts desire to
settle once and for all the quarrel be-
tween Italy and the Vatican, and to
place the latter on a thoroughly guar
anteed basis of temporal Independence
Much as II Is to the Vatican's ad-
vantage in the present moment to be on
friendly terms with France, IL has been
no secret for several years past that
France also was in most receptive
mood. Where the protection of large
Catholic populations in the Orient has
been intrusted by the Vatican since the
separation Of the church and state in
France TO other powers. France has
found herself steadily losing prestige In
those countries. This prestige has been
going largely to Germany and Austria,
who have at all times maintained
friendly relations with the Holy See.
Negotiations for resumption OF dip
lofnatic relations have been progressing
for fully a month. Cardinal Annette of
Paris has been delegated with the task
on behalf Of the Vatican. while former
Premier BRAND has conducted the
negotiations for tho French government