Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
FRENCH PART|SANS
| AGAIN IN TURMOIL
Bitter Quarrel Between vati.
can and Royalist Group
i. Ar0uSeS Politicians.
BY WILLIAM BIRD.

PARIS, March 26.-The bitter quar-
rel between the Vatican and the
French Royalist group, known as
L'Action Franchise which for the
past few months has filed Liberal
politicians with hilarious JOY, is now
turning their ieers to frowns of APP
prehension.
Heretofore the Clericals and the
Monarchists have been hand in glove,
and therefore their political adver-
saries thought they were entitled to
rejoice when the split came and the
Pope ordered the Royalist newspaper
placed on the Index EXpurgatorious,
forbidding Catholics to read it.
To-day, however, Radical and Social.
list leaders throughout France are de-
nouncing the holy see for ''interfer-
ing in French politics." and are TAX
ing up the cudgels in defense of their
arch adversary, Leon Daudet, and his
mated associate in polemics, Charles
Maurras.
Suspicion Is Aroused.
The simple fact is that the Left
politicians have begun to suspect that
underneath the surface of the wrangle
between the Vatican and the Royalists
Is vast plan for the creation in
france of a popular Catholic party
In Germany, and such as existed until
recently in italy.
The foundation OF such a party
would cut seriously into the present
Following of the Radical Socialist and
socialist parties, which now, through
their working electoral agreement.
rule the roost in most of the districts
or France. Many Radical-Socialists
ana some Socialists are church mem.
pers, and would gladly follow church
party which protested liberal ideals.
See Fascism Involved.
Close students of the Vatican policy
insist that the move to regain hold
on the liberal elements in France is
aimed largely against the Mussolini
regime. Fascism's pretention to
moral as well as political leadership
strikes at the roots of the church S
power throughout the world. and
formation of a Catholic party in
france among the Left elements. who
are bitterly anti-Fascist. would con.
siderabiy strengthen the Vatican,s
hand.
The ground on which the Vatican
mas banned the Action Franchise"
Is that its leaders, Daudet and
Maurras, are unbelievers and. have
written numerous books in which
christian morality is seriously offend.
co. Both men are eminent noyeIists
and critics. SO
challenge Holy Sees Position.
Their answer is that politics and
literature must not be confused. AL
tnougn they grant the Vatican the
ilgnt TO ostracize their literary pro-
auctions, they insist that the Holv
see is not entitled to interfere with
their political activities.
Ihe higher French clergy, although
many OF them have been supporters
OF monarchism in the past have raj
lied behind the Pope with adraira HE
oisclpline. Recently all the cardinals.
archbishops and bishops in France
sent collective letter to his holiness
expressing their entire agreement
with his action against the monarch
ist party and its newspaper.
1t is reported here that this letter
was demanded by the Vatican.
Daudet and MauFraS go further
and lnslnuate that the Vatican acted
at the request Of Aristide BRAND.
VINO has smarted under the stfnQinr
lash of the royaiist diafribes. m
this is true 1t Is one of the stra nRest
developments in French politics in
many day.
BRAND Held Responsible.
BRAND is generally credited with
responsibility for the break be-
tween church and state in France
and for 10 years before the war there
was no politician more hated bv
Catholics. Lately, however. he has
become conciliatory toward the
Vatican which has responded nv
praising his Locarno policy of Euro
pean pacification.
BRAND, although a Liberal. is de-
cidedly anti Socialist and the fornaa-
ton of popular Catholic party in
France would operate to adjourn the
advent of Socialist domination
which came threateningly near only
q few months ago.
Copyright 1927