THE VATICAN FOOLED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 252, 3 April 1915, Page 6

THE VATICAN FOOLED.

MISLKI) BY GERMAN LIES.

LEARNING THE TRUTH.

I M. Auguste Molot, member for Namuv in the eßlgian Chamber, who lias returned from a visit to Itnlv, writes as follows in the Petit Parlsien:--Astonishment lias been expressed that the Pope has not yet protested publicly against the violation of international law to Germany, and against the monstrous crimes perpetrated i„ Belgium bv German troops, (-specially against priests. What struck me during my stay in Rome was the ignorance of tlie Catholic world concerning the events of which ; my poor country has been the scene. There were also in circulation a great many inaccurate and mistaken view's oil the subject. "I was received by the. Pontiff on No-, vcmber 10, and believe that I was the first to make know n to him the, exact number of priests assassinated, by tile Germans in the diocese of Naniur alone. This ignorance is thus explained: 'iW German Government had been preparing for war for a long time. Knowing that the Vatican would exercise considerable influence over Catholic countries she had placed at the Holy See three official agents, viz., 11,e Austro-llungarv Ambassador, the Bavarian Minister, and the Prussian Minister, to whom were attached numerous other agents. On the violation of Belgian neutrality the Germans gave out tliat tliey were at first in agreement with Belgium, and that Belgium was merely stimulating resistance before withdrawing her army to Antwerp, having made a dignified protest against German acts. Events having openly given the lie to these statements, the Germans spread a rumor that as early as Julv 31, before the declaration of war, French soldiers had entered Belgium and had assisted in flic defence of Liege."

Then, said IT. Melot, came the ridiStory of tlm alleged Anglo-lkl-gia„ 1 reatv. As to tlio atrocities, tl'-y were attributed to rlio crimes of th'" Belgian people.

To .ill these efforts on tlie part of Germans, tlie Allies made no reply, liavinß 1,0 officii representative at tlie Vatican. Cardinal Mercier alone at tlm time of tlie Papal Conclave v.-as able to brin« some tnillis to lijjlit. At length, however, facts were revealed. "Tlx. Pope no longer doubts tlmf tlie neutrality of Isol;riinn was YiolaM without reason and without excuse. TIN Holiness knows that the Belgian neonlc have been martyred, their priest* assassinated, their churches profaned, anil their religion flouted."

'ilie question is now whether the Pope will not think the moment opportune for recalling the immovable principles of Catholic morality, and in partien, •lithe ecclesiastical penalties with whiel, the Church punishes those who maltreat '"misters and who commit sacrilege.