THE VATICAN AND THE WAR.
[To TIE EDITOR or THE " SPEETAT011."1 Sie,—Your correspondent " E. M." challenges me to produce " orders -from the Papacy " to the Romish priesthood as to their course of action with regard to conscription in Australia and Quebec. He also wants to know who "gave" those orders, " when," and " to whom." The questions are almost childish in their simplicity. Diplomatic instructions on matters of supreme political 'importance are not trumpeted to the world. If your cor- respondent really thinks that the Romish priesthood, as a whole,. could take sides on a public, question without orders from above, he will find few to share his belief. As to the point in dispute, and my evidence as to the action of the Romish priesthood in Aus- tralia, I found it in the American newspapers, where diplomatic questions are handled with a freedom unknown in this country. With respect to. Quebec the case is simple, the State being Catholic. As to the delicacy of tone shown towards the Papacy in this country, I think it clear; others may think otherwise.—I am,
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