ITALY & THE VATICAN

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1929, Page 6

ITALY & THE VATICAN

HISTORIC CEREMOXY. SIGNING OF THE TREATY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). BOM E, Feh. 11. Only ten persons will he present al the historic ceremony of the signing o! i lie Tn atv 10-morrow, there being four delegates from the Vatican, the other two privileged persons being the official photographers. Cardinal Gasparri, the Papal Secretary of State, who is recovering, will Ifirst welcome the Government dele gates, who will bo headed by Signor Mussolini. The eight delegates will then proceed to the Great Hall ol Lateran Palace, and will there append their signatures to the Treaty behind locked doors. The official text ol flic Treaty will not be known until tin Holy See announces it in the official organ of the Papacy, the newspaper “Osservatorc Romano.” The Concordat will be ratified b\ the Italian Government in April. Cardinals Gaopairi, Vaimtelli and Mafri will receive the Order of the Amiuziata, while the King of Italy. Signor Mussolini and Signor Ilocco will be recipients of" high Papal distinctions. ROMAN JEWS. ROME, Feb. 1.1. Amid general solemnity, humourists in the city, of Rome note that the Jews have prepared for the street markets, thousands of flags mingling the 'ltalian national tricolour with the Papal State colours, so that ever, the Ghetto will have cause for re-joicing-at the settlement between the Papacy and Italy. SPANISH SATISFACTION AT SETTLEMENT. LONDON, Feh. 11. “The Times” Madrid correspond out states:—Preparations are being made in Spain to celebrate the settlement of the Roman Question. Every Spanish Diocese as well as the Spanish Government, has sent congratulations to the Italian Government and to the Vatican.

AMNESTY FOR ANTI-FASCISTS. LONDON, Feb. 10. The Rome correspondent of the “Times” states:—lt is rumoured that Signor Mussolini intends to mark the signing of the agreement between the Vatican and the State of Italy by granting an amnesty to liis political opponents.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Feb. 11. Some of the newspapers referring to the Settlement of the Roman Question; consider tliat difficulties

may arise. They ask will the Pope allow tile Fascist- code and penal laws to operate in the Papal territory. On the contrary, they ask. will the Italian Government allow Italian subjects to be penalised thereon for oifeneos which the civil law does not recognise. The papers also raise the question regarding Catholic Boy Scouts, also the Knights of Columbus of America who have presented playing fields, but the Italian Government has not allowed the Boy Scouts to use them. These grounds are now part of the Papal Territory. Another question asked is whether the Papal State will permit a censorship of newspapers to he practised as is done elsewhere in Italy.

INTERNATIONAL R ECOGNITION. ROME. Fell. U. It is learned tliat the new Vatican precincts will he known internationally as the City of the Vatican. The new State will be printed on the international maps, and it will be. iecognised by the foreign Governments.