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of the abolishment of the anti-Christian propaganda, a clause 
      that in view of the persecution in Germany could have appeared 
      quite natural. Rather on this occasion they should have expressed 
      the hope that the beginning of a Kulturkampf should be avoided 
      in Austria and that the Kulturkampf in Germany should be quieted 
      down, a hope, though, which in consideration of the clear evidence 
      of the facts could not be well founded and which - as it happened 
      at the time of the Saar Plebiscite - would undoubtedly be deluded.
 
      
 
 
Being confronted with so much confession and critics among 
      Catholic and non-Catholic circles at such a declaration made 
      by the Austrian Bishops, the Holy See did not delay, through 
      the "Osservatore Romano" to sever itself from the said 
      declaration with great tact and marked firmness.
 
      
 
 
Upon this Vatican statement immediately followed the call 
      to Rome of Cardinal Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna, and the same 
      official Vatican paper, the "Osservatore Romano", published 
      his open statement in its original German text (English translation 
      of it follows here below). From the text of this declaration 
      and from the above attitude of the Vatican authorities one can 
      easily understand that the Holy See will never be ready to give 
      its approval to any agreement of any Bishop to any Governmental 
      action which might be in contrast with the Divine Law and the 
      freedom and the rights of the Church.
 
      
 
 
You know that a diplomatic Concordat was concluded and signed 
      between the German Reich and the Holy See a few