New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
Resumption of Diplomatic
Relations Between Vatican
and Paris Government
Due Chiefly to Benedict
Pontiff Long Pro-French
Personally Directed Nego-
tiations and Agreed to
Make Certain Concessions
From a Special Correspondents

decided to make peace with the Church,
personally directed the negotiations.
Benedict XIV, like his friend the late
Cardinal Rampolla, is and always has
been essentially pro-French, even when
the French government was not only
anti-Vatican, but essentially anti
Catholic
This feeling IF antagonism toward
the Pope and Catholicism was bitter
just before Sthe war broke out in 1914.
The French were then a little tired Of
this continual luminosity, but were
not in position to change the feeling
in Parliamentary circles.
When war was declared and the ma
ton was threatened with the fate of
1870, the government was forced to
change its policy as it needed the help
not only of the Professionals, but of
matter what their faith, rushed to
save the country. From all parts of
the world the French MONKS and
I priests hurried to France at the call
of duty.
The French law of separation was
forgotten. The government, in deal
ing with the religious needs of the
army, adopted all those measures
which it knew should be applied, with
OuC COiioultfIlZ tuC IIOuS0 Oh DcOuLleS.
as it knew perfectly we'll that the
feeling was still anti-Catholic.
Viviani Shelved Proposal
When England appointed minister
to the Vatican, French governmental
appointing an ambassador or minister
for the duration of the war, Delcasse
himself decided that it should be done
but the President Of the Council, Vivi-
ami, shelved the proposal, as he was
afraid that it's discussion in Parlia-
ment would provoke trouble. Instead,
ne agreed to arrange that the British
minister should represent Entente in
terests at the Vatican. This was salts
interests in Palestine were under dis
cussion. Then the French government
realized that minister of another,
even though friendly, power could not
handle the matter as we'll as q French
man.
Pope Benedict, although willing to
resume diplomatic relations. could not
III any way enter into negotiations aft
or the abrupt and brutal manner in
which the separation of Church and
state in France had been conducted,
For four years the matter remained in
allegiance. until 1918, when C1emenceau
was Prime Minis4"r. 1t was Clemenceau
who. in 1915. had ordered his sub
ordlnates to conduct the Papal Nunzio
to the frontier, and who later also had
obliged the President Of the French
Republic to refuse the invitation to
~ re Dern1 at the happy ending of
the war. While he was in power he
strained every point to prevent the
sending of an ambassador to the Papal
court.
Opposed by Clemenceau
In order to strengthen his cause he
arranged that series of articles
against the Pope should appear in the
Revue de Paris. But France had inst
finished one war and her people were
not DESTROYS of seeing the nation split
INTO two on account of religious differ
ences. The elections which were then
held were based on this unity in peace
as in war
Even Clemenceau. himself. after the
election of the candidates of the Bloc.
! issued proclamation, at Strasbourg af-
tirming that no French citizen would be
at disadvantage on account of his
religious principles.
Still Clemenceau was opposed To the
resumption of relations, especially as
ne saw that the old rancor was no
cnger alive in the breasts of the new
deputies. He chung to his point and
thereby lost the Presidency. In. his
stead Deschanel was elected, and made
an enemy of the old Premier by calling
Millerand to the post of President Of
the Council
Millerand's first important act of his
term was his speech in which he men
toned that efforts were being made to
resume relations with the Vatican. Not
voice Of protest was heard, and a bill
was presented asking for funds for the
reestablishment of the Embassy.
Vatican Makes Concessions
Signor Doulcet was sent to Rome ~
negotiator France, as everv one knows
sent Gabrielle Hanotaux and his suite
TO the canonlzation of Joan of Arc as
ambassadorial representatives of the
French republic. But Clemenceau. AL
though defeated, was not content to re-
main quiet, and during the time Am
oassador Hanotaux was in Rome a great
deal of intriguing was done by Gle
menceau and his followers.
me Vatican received the negotiator,
but was not inclined to sign a new
concordat on the lines Of the old one.
though it agreed to certain concessions.
me opposing parties managed to
have their friends appointed on the
commissions which were presenting the
question to the horse. The opposition
managed to have the matter discussed
several times, and once it was only
saved by one vote, the idea being to
shelve It until the next general cleo
tons. This project has been before the
house since last March for discussion.
and only successfully passed now.
The last effort of Clemenceau's party
was during the vacation, when agitation
was started against the new law. Dur
ing the discussion all parties were
heard from M. Noblemair and Ahhe
Lemire to the Socialist, Paul Bancour
and Louis Puech.
1T was while the discussion was in
progress that Free Mason member,
friend of Clemenceau, endeavored TO
speak against the Pope. Deputy di
Gallhard Bancel loudl protested that
no one during the war had done his
duty so we'll to all his flock as Pope
Benedict, land l, who have lost three
sons in the war, can say this" he added.
The measure passed with a heavy ma
jority
Thus religious peace has been re-
established in France. This will inn
prove the conditions Of the mission
ares IN the East, as now they wi ! have
protection, whereas before they had
really no government to which they
could apply as the Italian representa-
tives never in any way help if they
can manage 60 get out of the difficulty. |,
Having French protection in the East |
VIII improve matters for thousands of !