5 JANUARY 1924, Page 9

The facts which we recorded last week about the nego-

tiations at Malines between divines of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Church of England have received a mixed -reception. On the whole, however, it is generally recognized that some such discussions were a right and natural outcome of the Lambeth Resolution of 1920. In our opinion the Archbishop of Canterbury has taken a wise and statesmanlike course and may be trusted implicitly. We admit that more colour than was neces- sary has been given to alarm by the fact that the English divines are mostly of the Anglo-Catholic party, and may be supposed to tend towards Rome much more than the vast majority of members of the Church of England. When one looks at the facts, however, one sees that the danger is small and remote.

* * * *