THE VATICAN FIRM

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 802, 27 April 1910, Page 5

THE VATICAN FIRM

CATHOLIC RULER OF MONACO IN ROME. A DIPLOMATIC NOTIFICATION. By Telegraph—Frees AsaooldtlcD-Oooyrlrtt Rome, April 25. Prince ' Albert, ruler of the Eoman Catholic State of Monaco (which lies between French territory and the Mediterranean and subsists on the profits of Monte Carlo gambling), has arrived in Rome. Prince Albert, who is interested in scientific subjects and particularly in oceanography, comes as the' guest of King Emmanuel, in ordor to deliver a '■scientific lecture. ■:in view of the fact that Prinoe Albert comes as the guest of the King, the Vatioan has notified the Minister representing Monaco in Rome that he' is no .longer persona grata. CATHOUC RULER AND SCIENTIST. CANNOT RECOGNISE DUALITY. Coming after the Fairbanks and Roosevelt incidents, the above cablegram serves to show in a still stronger light the firmness of the Vatican's purpose and the unswerving nature of its policy. A Lcmg-Standing Difference. The trouble between Prince Albert ofMonaco and the. Vatican is a long-stand-ing one. In 1908 it was arranged that Prince Albert.should come to BonuToa" March 28 of that year, and Bhould deliver a ketureon oceanography—his favourite science—before the Royal Geographical Society of Italy. The Vatican made known its attitude, • arid the Prince's visit was postponed,. ostensibly on the ground of hie health. Now, apparently, it is to eventuate,- and the Vatican's penalty is to be incurred- Advices from Rome in 1908,- prior to the postponement' of 'fhe ""Prince's'visit stated: "The Prince wffl come as a private individual in answer to an invitation which the Royal Geographical Society of Italy has addressed to him as a distinguished expert in a particular branch of soience. The Vatican has, however, informed the diplomatic representative of Monaco In Rome that it can only regard the visit of the Prince in one sonse, and that it considers it a reason for protest.

First Breach Shide Loubet. "R will be remembered that, as the head of a State whieh maintains diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the Prince put himself in opposition to the Vatican protocol. which will not admit that any: ruling Catholic Prince can coin* to Rome except for the sole purpose of doing homage to'the Pope; as the Prince, if he comee, will naturally find himself in friendly, relations with the Quirinal. He will also be the first Catholic ruler, with the exception of President Loubet, who has since 1870 broken this convention.: i "The Vatican maintains: that it is Sio more able to make ■ an exception in favour, of Prince Albert of Monaco than it was in favour of M. Loubet; and, indeed, that* it is less diepoeed to do so seeing that in the case of the French President the friendly rapprochment of Italy and France was a strong argument in his favour. There is no such reason to be pleaded on behalf of the Prince of Monaco, and the Vatican cannot recognise his dual- personality as a Catholic ruler and a man of science. . .'.-' Thin End of the Wedge, "In support of this decision it, has been pointed out by the Vatican press that cei'tain newspapers "in Austria and elsewhere have already described this intended visit as the thin end of the wedge which will break down the barrier raised in Rome by the Holy See between the Italian Sovereign and other Catholic monarche. .While' fully o .recognising ithe unimportance, of this occasion, the Vatican declares that, it cannot, consent to the creation of' a:precedent. A formal iprotest will therefore be lodged with other Catholic Powers, as was done in the case of President■ Loubet. •' "" . ... ; "The 'Corriere della ■ Sera,' commenting upon this resolution and the reasons which have led to it, saye that a new protest on the part,of the, Holy See, 'in spite of these: arguments, will not appear to the Italian people any less deplorable and: absurd.'", ~..'... : : Prince.Albert's Domain. ■ ' , .:' The principality., of Monaco ■ consists: mainly of ■ the" t'-towns of Monte" Carlo; population, •3791;:, Monaco, ■: 8292; , and Condamine,' 6218. Monaco, is Italian in language and 'traditions, but is virtually, under French control. The present ruler of the principality, Prince Albert, was born on November 13, 1848, and suooeeded on September' 10, 1889. Hβ has a son by his first • wife 1 (marriage' annulled in 1880), Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton, Prince Louis,: born July 12, 1870. The Prince married as hie second wife, Alice, Dowager Duchess de Richelieu. There is. a governor-general and a Council of State. The; Roman Catholio is the only;qhnrch allowed in the prinoipahty. The-first stone of the Casino at Monte Carlo -was laid in 1858. The Sooiete Anonyme des Bains de: Mer et du Cercle des Strangers de ' Monaco, whose capital is in 60,000 enares, holds-a contract which will expire at the end of 1947. It has praotically to bear,;,the,-cost of spiritual and temporal government for the. principality, and in-addition pays. .070,000 annually to the Prince, for the concession, increasing, the amount every ten years from 1907 by ; ,£IO,OOO. The industries and trade are unimportant, and the gaming, as stated, provides the revenue. The inhabitants of Monaco dp not have access :to the gaming tables; their interest in the maintenance of the status quo is secured by 'their complete exemption from taxation, and &e fcr/re prices paid for their lands. : '"''■.