Anti-Vatican

Victor Berard, speaking in the Senate, poured scathing criticism on the Government. He claimed that France should no longer be represented at the Vatican as action by that institution was not favorable to France in the Near East, Alsace and Lorraine, Morocco, and even embarrassing in France itself. He also declared that by sending an ambassador to the Pope France had perhaps invited a coalition of Protestant European countries. He further criticized the reintroduction into France of monastic orders.

Premier Poincare pointed out that other countries having no concordat were represented at the Vatican. Regarding the religious orders he said that the law of 1905 divorcing the State from religion had in no sense been infringed. He made the question of keeping an ambassador at the Vatican one of confidence. The Senate sustained him by votes of 170 to 117.