FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 June 1919, Page 3

FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

HOPES OF CLOSER RELATIONS Writillg from Rome, under date April 13, a correspondent states that the clerical Corriere d’lt.alia, publishes an account of an ‘interview with the Bishop of Orleans on the relations between the Vatican and Fnancc. The bishop, after expressing the desire of the French for a resumption of those relati-ons which were interrupted -in 1Sl()-lg. rt-marked that on the French side the only obstacles were the fear of the politicians ‘lest they should be considered religious by re-establishing ‘relations with the head of a religious organisati,ml; reluctance to admit that they were wrong 15 years ego; and electoral misgivings. The bishop empliasisod the identity of interests of France and the Vatican, and quoted the phrase of Cardinal Gaspmri, “We need a strong France,” The interview, coupled with. the Pope’s recent speech, emphasises the fact, Wellknown here, that in the last fortnight the Vatican and France have come closer together. Nevert'h'e_less, the V-atican does not want French protection for its foreign missions, preferring the British system of ‘equal tolerance for all religions, which Cardinal Bourne patriotically pointed out in his l~3g§'ptian speech.