The Montagnini disclosures have continued in the French Press during
the week. On January 10th, 1905. Mgr. Montagnini wrote to Cardinal Merry del Val that the Dutch Minister in Paris, the Chevalier de Stners, had said (we quote from the Times): "France is getting more and more corrupt, and continues to be guided by Freemasonry, which will lead her to ruin or a barbarous revolution." After the publication of this letter M. de Shiers called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and made the usual denial. Mgr. Montagnini states that M. Loubet said to M. Denys Cochin that after the promulgation of the Separation Law it would be necessary to conclude another Concordat. M. Delcassa is reported to have said that he "did not consider the Embassy at the Vatican as suppressed, but only as vacant." M. Delcasse telegraphed in reference to this statement: "I have not yet seen the publication. Though on general grounds I deplore such disclosures, I have nothing to fear from them." One very interesting point is that Mgr. Montagnini observes, regretfully of course, that, RO far as his evidence goes, the French Bishops are in favour of accepting the Separation Law. This only bears out what we have said several times, that the French Bishops as a whole are not disinclined to work peacefully under the Republic on the lines proposed by the late Pope. But Pius X. has committed himself to a disastrous policy on Ultra.montane advice.
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