The Irish standard., 1914-12-05
ENGLAND AND THE HOLY SEE.

According to special cablegram
from Paris, the contents of which
were announced in the New York Sun,
England has named a diplomatic rep
resentative to the Holy See to remain
there while the war is in progress.
The contents of the dispatch, states
the Paris correspondent, has aroused
keen interest because of England's pre-
vious attitude.
The following from the New York
Sun is the contents of the cablegram:
"The announcement that Great
Britain has decided to send diplo-
matte representative to the Holy See
to remain there during the progress
of the war has excited keen interest
here.
1t is recalled that when the arrange
ments were being made for the first
international peace conference at The
Hague, called by Car Nicholas, Eng
land took the lead in objecting to the
proposal that representative of the
Vatican should have seat in the con-
gress. Italy took the same view and
the plan was shelved. Both England
and Italy considered that the presence
of a Papal representative at a con-
ference OF the powers would be, in a
recognition of the Papal
claim to temporal power, which has
never been abandoned by the Holy
See.
In speculations regarding the rea-
sons for Great Britains present step
it is pointed out that while the
enemies of England are represented
at the Vatican by three ENJOYS, those
of Austria Hungary and the kingdoms
of Prussia and Bavaria, the allied
are represented by only two,
those of Belgium and Russia France
has not had an envoy at the Holy See
since the separation act was passed
in 1905.
Another point which is brought up
as a possible explanation of the move
is the political unrest in Ireland due
to religious differences. The British
War Office has been making extreme
efforts to increase recruiting in Ire
land, but so far has not had the sue
cess which was expected.
Besides the countries above men,
toned and Spain, practically all the
South American republics maintain
diplomatic representatives at the Vati-
can. These ENJOYS enjoy all the pre-.
negatives and immunities accorded to
ambassadors and ministers at the
courts of great powers. This is one
of the features of the law of guaran.
tees adopted on May 10, 1871, by
Italy,"
The position which England now oc.
cupies is that Of beggar seeking
bread. A digest of all the laws, pro.
hibitions and punishments that Eng.
land has inflicted upon her Catholic
subjects would fill volumes. In years
gone by no parliament considered 1t
worth while to convene unless laws
were passed, liberty curtailed and
punishment inflicted upon the Catholic
subjects Of Britain. Even in more re.
cent years John Bull stood up with
Italy to fight against a representative
of the Vatican being present at the
Hague Peace Conference. This was
in 1899. The conference was called
for the purpose of averting and miti-
eating the horrors Of war which now
holds Europe in its throes. There
never was better example of curses
like chickens coming home to roost"
than the one furnished in the present
instance. England fought against the
admission to the Hague Peace Con.
ference of any representative of the
greatest moral force in the world.
Fifteen years later England finds that
her pride is humbled, her position in.
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