Evening star., 1925-03-22
BY HENRY w. BUM,


seven days ended March 81:
The British Empire.-king
George. leaving England on March
10 for a cruise of several weeks in
the Mediterranean. commissioned a
council to act for him during his alb
sence from the realm. as follows:
Prince Henry, the Archbishop of Can
terbury, the lord chancellor and the
prime minister Prince Henry is the
third son of his majesty.
The Prince of Wales is about to
leave for South Africa, and Prince
George is hunting in eastern Africa
The Marquis Curzon is dead.
Recent bye-elections to fill vacan-
cies in the Irish Dali Eirreann
caused by designations of Nationalist
members resulted in the return of
seven government candidates and two
Republicans. President Cosgrave be-
lieves that IL the method of voting
in accordance with the proportional
representation system Ohe system in
use in the Free State) had been better
understood no Republicans would
have been elected.
France-In protest against the ac-
ton of the French government in es-
tablishing the 'interdenomination
system in government schools at Col
mar in Alsace the Archbishop of
Strasbourg, with the approval OF the
Alsatian deputies, ordered three-day
strike, to commence March is. of all
Roman Catholic school children in
Alsace.
The government thereupon issued a
circular inviting the parents atten-
ton to law which prescribes penal
ties for parents who keep their chill
dren away from school. Apparently
the response on the 18th to the
bishops order was about 80 per cent
in the country districts and villages,
but much less in the large towns.
Oficial reports state that most of the
strikers were back at their desks on
the 18th.
There Is a general feeling that
Premier Herriot has been bullied by
his extremist supports into a very
unfortunate policy in respect of the
delicate religious problems IN the re-
covered provinces. 'Herriot has
humor and tact, but his wild men
forbid him to exercise them. He will
regret that he did not by such exer-
else risk fall from office should this
policy, coupled with a certain falling
off from the prosperity enjoyed un-
der German rule (however. attribut-
able to the Germans that falling Off
weaken the loyalty of the Alsatians
and Lorrainers to the republic and
perhaps even cause some of them to
glance wistfully across the Rhine.
My understanding Is that under the
"interd denomination system, the
government does not provide relig-
ious instruction, but 1mpartially al
lows 1t to be given in the school
buildings by the several creeds in
such manner as not to interfere with
the secular instruction.
On March 20 a speech to the cham
Der by Herriot on the governments IS
policy toward the Roman Catholic
Church resulted in a free-for-all
fight perhaps the most turbulent
episode in the chambers history.
Stated in a large way. the policy is
that of maintaining the seculariza-
embassy to the vatican has been
dropped (by Withholding appropria-
ton for its maintenance), the govern
ment is taking steps to extend to the
recovered provinces operation of the
law of congregations (the law pre-
scribing extirpation of the religious
orders from France) and of the legis-
lation prescribing secularization of
the schools, and the government has
announced its intention strictly to
enforce the legislation above men
toned throughout the rest of France.
During the war members of the
orders returned to France in large
numbers and played a valiant part;
with the natural consequence that en-
forcement Of the law of congrega-
tions has been allowed to lapse.
The situation (Which 1 have pre-
viously noted in detaiD presented a
favorable opportunity to the church
authorities and the religious con-
servatives for reviving controversy
on the grand scale of the Roman
question" a controversy which has
ragged furiously for many months
Every Sunday has seen demonstra- :
tions (mostly in the form of process
sions, with appropriate banners, un-
lder clerical 8uidanoea against tha