Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-05-03
| IMPORTANT
Cooperation Of Pope Voted For by
international League Com
gress at Berne.
Participation Of tbe Holy See in
The League of Nations
Favored.
----
Significant Ballot by Nations With
Americas Representative
Voting Nay.
a MOST GRATIFYING SYMPTOM.

A MOST GRATIFYING SYMPTOM.
During the first balf Of the month
of March an International League
of Nations Congress Vas held in the
city of Borne lin Switzerland, a
convention to which just as little
attention was paid in the press OF
this country asl to the International
Socialist Congress, which preceded
1t. In like manner the Internation-
al Christian Social Workingmen's
Congress, WHOM met during the lat
ter half of March at Lucerne, and
which was attended by no less than
800 delegates from large number
of countries, was also passed over
in silence. And this in spite Of the
fact that 1t is highly important that
we in this country should be we'll
posted on the sentiment of such inn
portant groups l5f men from many
nations, who discuss questions Of
general Interest," and notwithstand-
Ing the fact that these congresses
were attended BY number of men
Of international repute Catholic
organizations Of recognized stand
ing were seriously interested in
two Of these congresses, the Work
ingmen's and that OF the infe1na-
tional League II Nations.
Our readers VIII be especially in
terested in the Hate OF the resolu-
ton submitted 81 the noted Catho-
lie Swiss editdf GEORGE Baum
berger which was worded thus:
The International League Of Ma
tons Congress, Assembled IN Berne.
voices the wish that the Holy See
be invited to participation in the
task of establishing League of
Nations. The anth0v Of the mo-
ton remarked in THE Introduction
to his statement that, While acting
as the skopesman OF the 1nterna-
tional Catholic Union and Of the
Catholic Fedef&fions of Switzer-
land. he inaH ) hinseIf the IN
terpreter of the sentiment Of
the entire Catholic world, hut
that, on the other hand, the
Holy See itself was completely UNI
Informed as to his action He add
ed that. in fact, the Holy See could
in all probability, ne counted on to
take part in the League only Oh
condition that the latter be erected
on a foundation of justice, truth
and honesty.
We do not wish to enter into a
study of the remarks of the author
of the notion proof of the SOW
ereignty of the Pope and of the
latter's rights. based on the his
tory of the past, to part in the
work of collaborating in the League
of Nations; the fate of the motion
calls for our attention in a higher
degree. According to the reports
lying before us the resolution was
supported favorably by Profs. !
Mendelssohn- Baitholdi, of Wuerz- |
burg, and DR. Brockhausen, of |
as we'll as by the Chairman,
DR.. Wettstein, of Zurich. Prof DR. |
OF Turin and Basic, was
not opposed to the substance of the |
motion, but deemed its acceptance !
In its original form impossible. He
explained that the cooperation of :
Lhe Holy See must be limited to the |
religious and the social field, and |
that this limitation must he ex-
pressed in the language Of the mo-
ion: he argued further that a
clause should be added, guarantee
ng that the question of the Papal !,
States would not be drawn into the
discussion at any time. Baumber-
ger replied that his motion con-
aimed nothing directed against
italy, and that, from the Swiss
loint of view. he would even con-
Tenn such action IS a political Of
'ense
When the vote was finally cast
"a "a In. h. |
3aumberger's suggestion was ac-
'epted unanimously by all those
Toting; the only delegate who did
lot support the motion was the
ierman Socialist Bernstein, of Ber-
merely withheld his vote. He ex-
blamed his non-participation by say
ng that in view of the substantial
notion he would refrain from OPP
POSING it. When on the following
lay the question was laid before the
ntire body it seemed destined to
ave a smooth sailing course. After
he speaker for the committee, DR.
Vettstein. had placed the motion
,efore the assembly and had added
lis endorsement, no one offered to
peak on IL; thereupon the Chair
nan ruled the discussion closed and
he motion adopted. inasmuch as no
contrary motion had been intro
Iuced. At this late moment the
author of books on
,ex-ethics, Prof Forel. arose and
DICED a protest against 'the adj
mission of religious elements into
he League of Nations" At the
read of the nations favoring the
notion stood Holland and Hungary.
Though their delegations consisted
almost entirely of non-Catholics.
Gen. de Meestre (the representa-
i've of Holland) made a deep inn
says the report we have
'efore us. when he called out his
we to the chair in a resonant
dice" Austria and Switzerland
asst two votes for and one against
he resolution; Great Britain and
Germany each cast one for, one
.painst and one refusal To vote: the