The French Chamber is entirely with the Government in its
struggle with the Vatican. The policy of the Papacy in censuring the President for his visit to Rome hardly found an open defender in the debate which came off on May 27th, and H. Delcasse, while admitting that he had received a protest from.the Nuncio against the visit, stated that he had declared that protest inadmissible. The Premier, M. Combes, went much further, declaring that France would not tolerate the intervention of the Pope in its foreign relations, and that it was time to have done with 'that fiction of a temporal power," which had disappeared thirty years ago. This is, in fact, an official re-endorsement of the occupation of the Papal States by Italy ; but in spite of the irritation the state- ment 'might be expected to cause among French Roman Catholics, the Chamber approved the withdrawal of the Ambassador from the Vatican by a formal vote. of 427 to 95,—more than four to one. This is the more note- worthy because in the course of his speech M. Combos ex- pressed his readiness to abolish the Concordat, and only asked time to prepare the necessary legislation, which, it is under- stood, will prevent Bishops and clergy of the free Church from interfering in politics by sharp fines, or even imprison- ment. That is a mistake in a free Republic; but the French cannot get rid of their dread of what they describe as "the great Association." •
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