The Irish standard., 1917-07-07
FRANCE LEARNS THAT
Pope STILL EXISTS
Spirit of the People Influences Acts Of
Leaders Elect Daughter Of the
church-May Again Send Envoy
Question Of Embassy to the Vatican
Started on 1.-THE Other Side." =

Correspondence Brooklyr'
Rome, July 7th.-Discy
renewal of diplomatic
tween the Holy See and a
started again. It has not come
the Catholic side, being initiated
a series of articles from the pen of &
member of the Chamber of Deputies,
M. Lazare Weller, in the Journal des
Debats and on that account is all the
more interesting to observers here,
first among whom are those RESPONSE
BILE for the direction Of foreign affairs
at the Vatican.
M. Weller is-frankly outspoken; he
puts the case for renewal on grounds
of political advantages to his country
and the political loss which has &C.
crued through the absence of rela-
lions; and especially in reference to
new circumstances which will arise
after the war;
Some Plain Reasons.
He instances Syria and Palestine,
where French influence has dwindled,
and where it cannot be restored for
the future except by working in har-
mony with Rome. France jeopardizes
her position there, and elsewhere, the
Far East for instance, by treating the
Church as an enemy or just ignoring
its existence. Incidentally he refers
to Russia, where he predicts progress
for the Catholic Church consequent on
the downfall of the "Pope-Czar."
wherever look" he writes, 81 see
nothing but gain to be had for France
through renewal of diplomatic rela-
tions; far more gain than the Holy
See will get out of it." ut is always
useful to have man who speaks
frankly, in trying to estimate situa-
tion.) Nor does he believe that Italy
will mind in the least her ally France,
renewing relations with the Power
which treats her government as ex-
communicate"
Possibly this is rather crude way
of putting the situation as between
Italy and the Holy See in this war
1917. We all know, nor can we ever
forget, 1870, but the power, which may
be trusted to know and remember bet
ter even than we, appoints chaplain
general to the Italian forces, gives &c.
clesiastical buildings for the use of the
Italian state, sends a blessing "in
articulo mortis" to the Italian Foreign
Minister, allows the chaplain to the
royal family to give Confirmation to
the kings children-in fact is just now
exemplifying, as is it's won't Christian
Ind hi Hrok
article by pointing out that another
ally of Italy, England, has appointed a
minister to the Holy See.
Compatible With Existing Conditions.
In his second article the French
deputy maintains that renewal of re-
lations is quite compatible with the
existing conditions of official separa-
ton of Church and State brought
about in 1904. AS it is, and especially
under the circumstances created by
the war, the elements of religious
peace exist in France. Only every
good Frenchman must see that there
must be understanding and agree
ment between the state and the Catho-
lie hierarchy even though separated
from the state
M. Weller is an Alsatian. Alsace
and Lorraine, rejoined to France, but
with German Bishops at Metz and
Strassburg, are ruled enthusiastically
almost on the terms of the old Con-
cordat, from which condition of things
an abrupt jump to the French separa-
ton agreements would be impossible
here, as in other places, especially
in the Far East, where German in
tluence has been growing, and in Sy-
ria, it will be impossible for the
French state to avoid co-working with
the Church. "All roads lead to Rome"
He refers to the magnificent loyalty of
the French Bishops and clergy. He
points out that there have been com
munications between the Holy See and
France since the separation, but they
have been unofficial, carried on in a
semisubterranean way through the
good offices of Catholics, and it would
be far better that they should be un.
dertaken openly by open Republicans
After M. Weller comes no less au
thoritative a writer than M. Pichon
He agrees that open negotiations are
preferable to the unofficial commune
cations which have been passing, but
he is against any change during the
progress of the war. A French repre-
sentative in Rome now would. not be
able to do anything to change the atti
tude of the Holy See-even, he says
granting that those who criticise that
attitude are correct in their judgment
which is by no means certain-but af
ter the war problems will abound in
the solution of which the Holy See
must be considered.
Opinion In Rome.
Rome of course is silent. 1t has, as
a matter of fact, said its say, and will
a generous initiative the wisdom o
which as we'll as the charity now be
comes evident-as in many of the Hol!