Item 8/1/1/5 - Overseas Missions: Vicariate:

Overseas Missions: Vicariate: South Africa: Botswana: Oblates and Jesuits: copy letter from Bishop M.H. Lucas, Apostolic Delegate, Pretoria, to the Fr. General of the Oblates, answering the General's reply to a report from H.E., regarding the divison of the Kimberely Vicariate. (Copies of that rerporet or the General's reply are not to hand.) H.E., sets out the reasons why any division is ever necessary and answers points raised by the General: (a), he is not dissatisfied with the German missioinaries - the mission is too vast and understaffed: (b) England has not asked that the German missionaries in Bechuanaland be replaced, but the authorities would be pleased to have Englsih-speakers: (c) it is not the policy of the government to make the missionary peresonnel undesirable because they are Catholics. He would welcome the idea of the Irish Province taking over this part of the province. He also deals with the Training College in the Reserve and discusses certain rumours heard by the General. He trusts that the General will be able tio interest the Irish Province in Bechuanaland