Chapter 55: Exchange Of Benefits
Hearing Prime Minister Primó’s questioning of himself, Archbishop Pedro couldn’t help but swallow.
Prime Minister Primó still gave a strong sense of oppression, especially under the premise that he had just suppressed the Carlist faction rebellion not long ago.
Archbishop Pedro certainly did not want to be at others’ mercy, but was there any good way to resist the Primó Government at present?
With the precedent of the Carlist faction, Archbishop Pedro had no confidence in the Church’s resistance.
“No, it’s not like that.” Archbishop Pedro hurriedly said: “Of course I will not resist the Government. I am just expressing some views on the arrest of Church members.”
“Bishop Pedro, I already know your views. But the assassination incident is of great importance and needs to be investigated clearly to determine if there is any suspicion.” Prime Minister Primó said: “
Please wait patiently for a while. If the arrested people have no suspicion, they will naturally go back safely.”
Needs to be investigated clearly to determine if there is any suspicion? Hearing Prime Minister Primó say this, Archbishop Pedro almost wanted to laugh.
If the arrest work was really so serious and responsible, how could it arrest so many Church members?
There was not much evidence during the arrest, but complete evidence is needed to prove no suspicion when releasing? Isn’t this fooling ghosts?
Moreover, even if they are released after the investigation is clear, the police on the other side will still continuously arrest other Church personnel.
Release one and arrest two—Archbishop Pedro did not think Primó couldn’t do it.
“Prime Minister Primó, what exactly needs to be done to prove the Church’s innocence? I swear to God, the Spanish Church absolutely did not participate in the plan to assassinate you. Those arrested bishops are innocent.” Archbishop Pedro said quite helplessly.
In the current situation, he had no choice. First ensuring the Government abandons the arrest of Church members was the most important thing.
As for counterattacking the Government’s actions, it was impossible with just the Church’s strength; it still needed help from other forces.
Before that, temporarily compromising with the Government to ensure the Church could safely pass this assassination incident had become Archbishop Pedro’s only idea.
“You know, Pedro. Because of this assassination, many of the Government’s work has been delayed for a long time. I originally planned to issue the second batch of industrial bonds, but after the assassination incident, how can you make the public feel at ease to purchase the Government’s bonds?” Prime Minister Primó suddenly said.
Hearing this, Archbishop Pedro immediately understood what Primó wanted.
To ensure the Church’s temporary safety, Archbishop Pedro could only reluctantly give up the Church’s interests: “Although I am certain the Church is not related to the assassination incident, as a Spaniard, how can I ignore the country’s development?
I believe God would not want to see this either. I am willing to represent the Spanish Church to purchase the industrial bonds issued by the Government and donate 2 million pesetas to the Government.”
Archbishop Pedro’s perceptiveness made Prime Minister Primó very satisfied, but Prime Minister Primó’s purpose was not for these few million pesetas in funds.
The wealth accumulated by the Spanish Church over a long time was perhaps even more exaggerated than that of the Bourbon family. A few million pesetas was probably just a drop in the bucket for the Church.
Moreover, compared to these not-so-substantial funds, Primó was more interested in the Church’s land.
To be honest, what use was it for the Church to hold so much land? They exploited the Government’s low taxes on Church land to frantically accumulate money, then used the money to purchase more land.
Just around Madrid, large tracts of land were occupied by nobles and the Church, while the land in the hands of commoners had become the minority.
This was extremely unfavorable to Spain’s development. If these lands could not be reclaimed, it would seriously affect Spain’s future development.
“Alright, Bishop Pedro. For God’s sake, I am willing to believe your sincerity. I will instruct the Madrid Police Station to conduct more meticulous screening during arrests to avoid harming innocent people.
Of course, I will also have them carefully screen the arrested Church members and release them if there are no issues.
Someone will contact you then. I deeply apologize for the trouble caused to the Church. I believe the matter will be satisfactorily resolved in the near future, and no Church member will be wronged.” Primó said with a smile.
After confirming that Archbishop Pedro was willing to sacrifice the Church’s interests for those bishops, Primó had achieved his purpose.
As for more detailed negotiations with the Church on how to use money and land to bail out those Church members, that was not something Primó should do.
As Spain’s Prime Minister, Primó had more important things to do and would not abandon other matters for some Church land.
Anyway, the officials in the Finance Department were professionals at haggling; they would absolutely not let the Government suffer a loss.
After hearing Primó relent, Archbishop Pedro finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If Primó insisted on arresting Church members, Archbishop Pedro really wouldn’t know what to do.
As for resistance, the Church currently had no good means against the Government. Perhaps it could incite some brainwashed believers to hold a parade, but such a parade would soon be suppressed by the Government.
Rebellion was even more impossible. A parade might attract public participation through brainwashing and deception, but rebellion could not fool commoners into joining.
With Primó’s reforms, the living standards of farmers and workers were slowly improving. Under such premises, farmers and workers were not fools and would not stand up against the Primó Government.
“Prime Minister Primó, can we also participate in the investigation of this assassination incident?” Archbishop Pedro asked.
Archbishop Pedro was well aware that a major hemorrhage for the Church was inevitable, which also made him very angry at the true culprits behind the assassination.
Even if it was an assassination, why direct the fire onto the Church?
No matter which force was behind it, Archbishop Pedro had only one idea: to make the people or forces behind it bleed more.
“Of course, Bishop Pedro.” Primó smiled and nodded, as if it was a matter of course: “Catching the culprits behind the scenes as soon as possible is the best, which is beneficial to both the Government and the Church.”
It was undeniable that the Church was still a fairly powerful force in Spain at this time.
As for resisting the Government, the Church definitely could not do it at present. But if it was investigating the assassination case, the Church could still play some role, at least helping the Government find the culprits behind the assassination case faster.
Second update, seeking support, seeking follow reads!
