ITALY & THE VATICAN

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1929, Page 5

ITALY & THE VATICAN

SIGNING THE AGREEMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 11 a.m.) ROME. Feb. !). Cardinal Gasparri, who caught a cold, has gone to bed with a high temperature. He hopes to recover in time to participate in the signing of the agreement between the Vatican and Italy on Monday at the Lateral! Palace. 'I he Pope during lie week-end has personally given the final touch 'to the agreement in which his .sovereignity is acknowledged over the small territory described as “the City of the Vatican.’’ wluiclr includes St. Peter’s Square and many Papal buildings in Rome, while provision is made lor Italy’s payment of an indemnity of about- £21, G00 in iiionov and Government bonds.

The Vatican lias a secret printing house, operated by hereditary printers —trusted men spending their lives in tlie same employment as their fathers and grandfathers. When specially secret documents are being printed they are not allowed to leave the precincts or communicate with people even within the precincts. . • Hie Pope devoted Saturday to the final correction of the proofs of the historical treaty. He often paused, pen in the air, while he contemplated even a comma, saying these cases, when read with the absence of a comma, completely modifies their meaning, pate at night the proofs were released for the filial printing. According to present plans the text will be signed on Monday by Cardinal ,nsparri and Mussolini, ami ratified later by the Pope and the King. Thereafter it will be submitted to the Fascist Grand Council, then Parliament. Both the Vatican and the Government have agreed not to publish the texts of the Treaty concordant until a*ftcr the general election in March. Therefore, only a short summary wil be published. At present it is understood that Mussolini will issue a “Loan of Conciliation,” which it is expected, tlie people will cover immediately.