New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-08
CARDINALS ARREST
DENIED BY GERMANS
Also Said That No Priests
in Belgium Have Been
Imprisoned.
PRELATE'S LETTER
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Amsterdam Paper Insists That
Prleate and Clergy Are
in Custody.

The Hague VIA LOnuOuI, Jan =
The German military government IN
Belgium characterized to-day the re-
port published in the Amsterdam
"Tijd" that Cardinal MERCER, Arch-
bishop Of Malines, had been arrested, as
absolutely false. The Cardinal neither
has been detained in the Bishops Pal
ace at Malines nor placed under police
surveillance Of any sort, the oihcial
statement says. II also is denied that
any priests have been arrested.
The denial is silent on the case Of
Dessain. the printer, who pu0lshed
the Cardinals Christmas pastoral let
ter, but II il understood the story con
corning him also is a fabrication.
The Germans are said TO take me
position that at this time the point
whether they are the legal or the
Illegal rulers Of Belgium is not at
issue, and. consequently, there viii be
no action on their part.
London, Jan. THE Rome CORE
spondent of "The Daily Mali tele-
graphs that he learns that the Vatican
has requested information from Ger
many regarding the reported arrest OF
Cardinal MERCER in Belgium. The cor
respondent adds that he believes the
Pope will make a demand on Emperor
william for the Cardinals immediate
release.
The Cardinals Letter.
The much discussed paragraphs OF
the pastoral letter Of Cardinal Mer-
cier which, the Netherlands newspaper
"Tijd" said, had been responsible Tor
his arrest by the German military au-
thorities in Belgium, an arrest when
the German authorities have fategorl-
cally denied. have been published in
pamphlet form in London. They are as
follows:
81 consider il an obligation of my
pastoral charge to define your duties
of conscience toward the power when
has invaded our soil, and which at TINS
moment occupies a greater part OF IT,
That powe~ has no authority IN law.
In the sanctuary OF your soul you owe
il neither esteem nor attachment nor
obedience. The sole legal power IN
Belgium is that which is derived from
our King, our government and the rep
resentatives of the nation. inns alone
for US represents authority; this alone
has a right 20 the affections OF our
hearts and TO our submission.
"Of themselves, the acts of those
in occupation arc without force; but
the legal authority ratiiies tacltly
those acts which are justified IN the
general interest. and from this ratiii-
cation alone they derive all their Ju-
dicial worth.
Belgium Not Conquered.
"The occupied provinces Of Belgium
are not conquered provinces. Belgium
is no more a German province than
Galicia is a Russian province. Never
theless, the occupied part OF our coun-
try is confronted by a situation to
which il must submit. The greater
number of our towns have been handed
over TO the enemy; they must respect
the conditions of their surrender.
From the beginning OF military OPP
erations the civil authorities nave IN
recommended that private
persons abstain from acts of hostility
against the armed enemy. These rec
are still IN force. Our
army alone is charged with the duty OF
our national defence. Let us know how
to await at its hands the ilnal deliver
ance; let US comfort ourselves as the
general interest demands. Let US re-
spect the regulations they tthe Ger
manS) impose on US so long d. tHtN w
not attack our liberty Of Christian
or the dignity Of our
patriotism"
fBv cable 20 The Tribune
Amsterdam. Jan. "A teacher from
Malines informed the TURNOUT CORE
spondent of the "Telegraaf" that Car
dinal MERCER is apparently locked
up. as he has not been since since Sun
day morning. Couriers from their re-
spective parishes in the diocese come as
usual to the palace and are admitted.
A special guard is not over the palace.
The blinds are drawn in the windows
Of the lower stories.
CARRIAGES drive up and occasionally
a motor car, but the Cardinal is not
visible. It is believed he has been for
hidden 10 leave the building till the
Governor General has arrived at de-
cision in the affair, for in this case
General Won Kissing must certainly
need the judgment of "the high govern
ment." A couple of weeks may elapse
before it is announced.