Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-04
DR.. WALSH BACK
FROM MEXICO CITY
Says Good Will Brought Set.
Element of Church Question
in Southern Republic.

Back from Mexico City. where he
was active in. the negotiations that
brought religious peace to Mexico, Dr.
Edmund 8. Walsh of Georgetown Uni
versity explained today that the spirit
Of good will" that actuated the con-
ferees on both sides and the sincere
cooperation of President Portes Gil
was responsible for the successful ter
mination of the three-year controversy
involving the Catholic Church.
President Portes Oils announcement
on June 81, DR.. Walsh said furnishes
a starting point for final definition Of
the relations between church and
state"
The decision TO restore the practice
of their faith to millions of Catholics,
ne added, was made possible by the
tenor Of the Presidents statement.
which he declared will take prom
inent place among the state papers of
Mexico as one of the most constructive
actions taken by the Mexican govern
ment since the revolution"
Absent Eight Weeks.
Although he was absent eight weeks
in Mexico DR.. Walsh will leave very
shortly for Rome, where he will confer
with Pope Plus XXI on affairs con-
nected with the recent settlement of
the church question in Mexico.
Or. Walsh returned to Washington
yesterday direct from Mexico City, ac-
companied by Don Miguel Cruchaga,
former Chilean Ambassador to the
United States and now umpire Of the
Mixed Claims Commission. Don Cru
chaga was one of those who also played
a leading part In the church nego-
tiations.
Acting under the direction Of the
Holy See In an unof1cial capacity DR..
Walsh was instrumental in paving the
way for the active negotiations during
his early stay In the Mexican Capital.
Father Walsh had high praise for
ing peace, and also lauded the CO.
operation shown by the American cor
respondents in the City Of Mexico.
Knew Them Personally.
II know every one of those eight
men personally and wish to pay public
tribute to their splendid cooperation
during my eight weeks in Mexico" he
said. While fulfilling tAfir primary
obligations as gatherers ~ news, they
showed fine discretion end restraint,
delicate mission committed to the ne
gotiators. They relied on authoritative
sources for their information. respected
condolences and when no definite de-
velopments were announced at the
daily press conferences they did not
descend to the easy expedient of filing
purely sensational dispatches"
While DR.. Walsh believes it will take
considerable time to work out the en-
tire settlement of the agreement with
the Mexican government, he explained
that all future conferences would be
conducted by the Mexicans themselves
Riding through the streets Of the
capital with Don Cruchaga the day the
settlement was signed, DR.. Walsh said
great feeling Of relief and renewed
detectives was manifested everywhere
Thousands of people swarmed outside
the four largest churches of the city
whose doors had remained opened dur
ing the three years of the controversy
but were closed to services.
When he returned to Washington DR.
Walsh still wore the civilian gsrb which
the custom and laws Of Mexico required
him and other Catholic priests to wear
while in that country.