The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-08-14
THE VATICAN AND FRANCE

lance that the Bishops authority be
formally established over all associa-
tons in his diocese.
1t is only by taking these questions
into account and by setting down in
the text of the law all the guarantees
claimed by the Church that an under
standing may be arrived at
Several Catholic deputies declare
that on account of the Government
earnest desire to reach an agreement,
this agreement is likely to be drawn
in the near future. This explains why
Catholic members of the House, like
M. Boissard, professor in the Lille
Catholic University, and M. de Tinguy,
who has just returned from Rome,
have voted for the adjournment of the
discussion.
Most Catholic newspapers regret
that the question of the status of the
French Church has thus been mixed
up with that of establishing the en-
bassy. 1t were better, they said, to
begin by definitely resuming official
relations; the rest might have come
more easily afterwards.
The Proposed Agreement.
Here follow the five points on which
negotiations were carried on between
the French Government and the Holy
See, as per the report communicated
to the Finance Commission of the
Chamber by Deputy Noblemaire. The
official document is exactly quoted:
Relations to be Permanent.
l. "All relations must have a nor
NAL and permanent character and be
maintained by regularly accredited
ambassador. The principle of diplO-
matte reciprocity is not contested. A
nuncio shall be sent to Paris in
maximum delay of one year after the
arrival of the French Ambassador in
Rome, when both Governments have
fully agreed upon the choice of the
party and the best moment for him to
come to France.
Catholic Protectorate in Orient.
2. France asserts her desire to
continue her traditional policies of pro-
lection towards the Catholics in ORR
ent, and claims as natural counter
part, the preservation of all prerOga-
tives and privileges always granted to
the official representatives of France
in Palestine, in Syria, at CONSTANT
nOple and throughout the LeVant.
France evinces an equal concern
about the maintenance of her rights in
the extreme Orient and, in a general
way, wherever her interests and those
of the Holy See may happen to clash.
Tribute to Pope's Moral Authority.
3. GIN Europe as it stands today,
the work of the treaties inspired by
ideas Of justice and peoples auton-
omy is apt to be strengthened by the
pacifying influence of such a high
moral power as the Pope's. France,
who evinces her firm wish to main
tain an international peace, at the
same time stable and lasting, desires
expressly that the Holy See shall use
all it's influence to assist her in reach
ing such legitimate goal and thereby
contribute to a general pacification.
French Laws-Choice of Bishops.
4. "The resumption of relations
with the Holy See shall not carry
with it any notifications whatever in
the present French legislation as re-
CARDS cult, schools and associations.
"The French Government of course
shall lay no claim to any of the ad-
vantages formerly enjoyed by virtue
of the COncordat of 1901. They, how
ever, expect that, as consequence of
the resumption of relations, the Rom
an Curia shall grant to them, so far
as the choice Of the bishops is con-
cerned, a treatment equal to that Of
the best favored nation among such
as maintain representative in the
Vatican and are in a condition similar
to Frances.
The President and the Vatican.
5. "All possibility of misunder
day when the President of the Re-
public shall have to return to the King
Of Italy the visit paid by this latter
to both the French Nation and the
French Army. 1t is only after his call
at the Quirinal, and by starting from
the French Embassy to the Holy See
that the Chief of the French State
shall go to the Vatican, thereby follow
ing the example given by so many
other rulers, and without this practice
proving the least lack of respect to-
wards the Holy See, to whom all legi-
innate Difference is due
con each and all of these various
points, states the report, "a com
plete agreement has been reached"