IL DUCE IN VATICAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 9

IL DUCE IN VATICAN.

Historic Ceremony As Lateran

Treaty Is Ratified.

POPE AS SOVEREIGN.

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

VATICAN CITY, June 7.

The exchange of ratifications of the Lateran Treaty was carried out this morning with picturesque ceremony. It is notable that Signor Mussolini is the first Premier of united Italy to ever set foot inside the Vatican when he entered Cardinal Gasparri's palace to deposit the State's ratification.

Directly the ceremony was over the Pope's Swiss Guards mounted on sentry at the Vatican City approaches as a sign of sovereignty. Simultaneously the bronze gates of the palace were thrown open as the signal of peace between Church and State.

The Rome correspondent of the "Times" states that so far only the Fascist newspapers "II Tevere" and "L'lmpero" have commented upon the Pope's letter to Cardinal Gasparri, complaining of Sigiior Mussolini's recent speeches about the Lateran Treaty of the Concordat.

Only the Roman. Catholic organs published the letter in full, the others merely giving inadequate and partial summaries.

"II Tevere" ignores most of the Pope's points and describes his letter as "a solemn, foreseen affirmation of the point of view of the Church." It concedes that the letter was completely consistent with Roman Catholic dogma.

"L'lmpero," on the other hand, violently' attacks the Pope for daring to censure the Duce. It N says: "Wβ never offended the Church and the Church must not offend Fascism, which is not to be criticised, except by Fascists, and the Duce by no one."

It is evident from the Pope's letter, says the correspondent, that the future is going to be full of difficulties for Italian Catholics. The latter also are convinced that the Fascists already are beginning to realise that the inner conflict which exists between their loyalty to the State on the one hand and to the Church on the other is still far from being resolved.

RHINELAND TROOPS.

Allies' Evacuation Preparations

Advanced.

EXPERTS' AGREEMENT SIGNED

(Australian and X.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, June 7

The "Daily Express" says it understands that the Allies' preparations for the evacuation of the Rhineland have been advanced and probably will be carried out in October.

The report of the Committee of Experts on Reparation, says the paper makes no allowance for any payments from Germany after SeptemberTfS the purpose of keeping up the Allied force on the Rhine.

A dispatch from Paris says it is expected that the experts' report Vm be SHinn * J™ 111 ?) Sir Josiah Stamp, Brit sh delegate, is on his way back to London. He will'leave England on a cruise in the Mediterranean on

.The reparations' experts have signed the agreements.