Mr. Sampson to Mr. Hay.
Quito, May 10, 1901.
Sir: You can say to Rev. John Lee, in answer to his questions, copies of which you inclose me in your No. 168 of April 10, 1901, as follows:
- First. The Ecuadorean Congress did pass the civil registry bill for the registry of marriages, births, and deaths. It was approved by the President October 25, 1900.
- Second. The same Congress did pass a law forbidding priests or monks to teach in any school under Government control, except as appointed to teach religion; said law also prohibits any school under [Page 145] the control of the priests or monks from conferring any degree except ecclesiastical. This law was approved by the President October 18, 1900.
- Third. Information desired as to “more liberal laws,” etc., October 5, 1900, the President approved a law passed by Congress to buy (compulsory sale of church required) the cemeteries of the country, so anyone could be buried in them.
A representative of the Pope has just left Ecuador.
While here he and the minister of foreign affairs negotiated a treaty between church and state granting civil marriage for non-Catholics, and a division of all cemeteries, so that in one part may be buried non-Catholics and in the other Catholics. This is to save the Government the expense of buying the cemeteries.
This treaty must be approved by Congress of Ecuador and the Pope before it becomes operative.
I have, etc.,