FRANCE, CHINA, AND THE VATICAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2240, 16 November 1886, Page 2

FRANCE, CHINA, AND THE VATIC AN.

It is believed that, in order to induce the Vatican to rec«usider its intention of sending an Envoy to China, charged with the protection of Roman Catholic niiwonaries or others in the Chinese Empire, the French (iovernment were obliged to iesort to the thre.it of separating Church an 1 ! State in Franca. In other words, the withdrawal was threatened of the €2,000,000 annually paid by the Republic towards the support of the Unman Catholic religion. There are no means of knowing for certain that this menace was uttered, but sure it i* that the departure of the Pontifical Nuncio was at the la->t moment suspended. It is to be .supposed that China will have a word to say to this arrangement, which was made principally at her instigation. The French have hitherto claimed a protectorate over the Chiistian resident" in China, irrespective of nationality. This claim has never been favourably admitted by China, but it has in practice led to many misunderstandings and inconveniences. The action of China in opening negotiations with Rome was regarded by France as striking a blow at her political prestige. The end of it, perhaps, may be that the Christians in China will be without any protection at all. The Pope may be overawed by French threat*, but China, on the other hand, may refuse to recognise the right of France to interfere on behalf of any save her own subjects.