5 JANUARY 1924, Page 10

On the credit side of the Archbishop of Canterbury's move

must be placed the fact that the Vatican by con- senting to these discussions has, temporarily at all events, departed from its habit of talking forbiddingly about heresy and wicked false doctrines. To have induced the Vatican to take such a step as that is a little triumph in management. Nothing but good can come of such an incident. But when we look further ahead we cannot help feeling that ultimate reunion will be wrecked on the refusal of the Vatican to yield anything of its claims to a privileged position in the Christian world. The supremacy of the Pope will no doubt be re- asserted. It is, of course, certain that any such claim would not be looked at for a moment in this country.

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