EXPEL THE POPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 9

EXPEL THE POPE.

HITLER'S REQUESTS.

PLEA TO MUSSOLINI. B£ANT THINK HE WIIX AGREE.! (Special—By Air Mail.) PARIS, September 3. Will the Pope beat the dictators? Despite appearances, 99 out of 100 Frenchmen in every walk of life believe that he will win, and are watching the struggle with a tranquil eye, writes Mme. Tabouis, the well-known diplomatic correspondent, in the "Sunday Referee" (London).

Despite the Italian Fascist party's official communique announcing the conclusion of an agreement with the Catholic Action organisation, the struggle between the Vatican and Mneeolini and between the Vatican and Hitler hae never been more intense.

In the street* of Rome to-day it is impossible to buy "Osservatore Romano," the Vatican's official newspaper. Aβ eoon ae it appears in the kiosks it is seized by the Fascist police.

Those who see Mussolini every day can obeerve the hatred, ascending in a i curve, that he bears the Pope. Every! jmorning his intimates hear Mussolini I rave against "the okl so-and-so." and, him declare that Hitler has «rood> ireason in wishing to persuade him to ;give the Pope asylum no longer. Will be Driven Out. In France many persons, including the IforniPr Premier, M. Pierre Laval, are [convinced that very shortly the Pope will be driven out of Italy, and that with his entourage of cardinals he will be houeed in the Chateau of the Popes at Avignon.

Meanwhile. Father Ventnri. who for many years has been trying to persuade khe Pope that Mussolini was sincere and

that Catholics could have implicit faith in him, hae become the target of general reprobation on the part of all cardinals.

Anticipating the death of the Pope and the necessity of his future successor, the cardinals have already reached an agreement among themselves whereby the next conclave will be held outside Italy.

To the French the most alarming aspect of the whole question ie the probability that the next Pope will be an American cardinal. However, they don't object when they are told the reasons for this probable choice—the avoiding of European quarrels.

Moreover, an American Pope would assure an improvement in the Church's financial situation. It is difficult to see how the struggle between the Pope and Mussolini, ami be-j tween the Pope and Hitler can be stopped before the fall of the dictators. Their points of view cannot be reconciled. Hitler's and Mussolini's racial laws, which are going to be enlarged, will j little by little lead to a final rupture between the Pope and the dictators. Priests Beaten Up.

Violent disorder has broken out in several Italian cities recently as a result of these strained relations. At Bergame Catholic notices were ripped from public places. Fascist squadron* set upon and beat xip several priests.

Meanwhile, the , Rf>pe, after consulting'! with the Primate of Cologne and the!' Apostolic Nuncio at Warsaw, and after'' conversations with Cardinal Pacelli and|i foreign Cardinals at the Vatican, hasj decided to increase the number of foreign:i Cardinal*. To-day ,3.1 out of 70 seats inj! the Conclave are held by Italians. This ; disproportion is yoinjr to cease. i ■ The more Hitler and Mussolini |>ersp-; cute the Pope, the more the Pope Willi lean on the remaining democracies. To' these countries, it is believed, he will ! take all Catholic support, the spiritual j support of the entire world and the support of all Jews. i The democracies are already sure of beating the dictatorships. They have larger armies and fleets, more aeroplane*. I The financial resources of Britain.; France and the United ijtate 3 cannot be ! estimated. I