WOMEN'S ROME CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17769, 22 May 1923, Page 9

WOMEN'S ROME CONGRESS.

POPE RECEIVES DELE-

GATES.

A SUFFRAGE DEMONSTRATION. (w cable—pbbss association—coptbiqht.) (ATJSTBAJJAX AND N.Z. CABLE AS3CCIATIOS.; ROME, May 20. The Pope has received 25 French, British, and American delegates to the Women's International Congress. He said he favoured the Congress, though he could not approve all the items in its programme, particularly those relating to divorce. A feature of the closing day of the Congress was a great procession of women representing the nations of the world from the Palazzo della Esposizione to tho office of the Minister of the Interior, their purpose being to hand the Prime Minister (Signor Mussolini) the Congress's resolution on women's suffrage.

The procession was headed by the Italian flag and the Alliance banner, and was led by Mrs Chapman Catt, president of the Congress, and Madame Schiavoni Bosio, the Italian -women's leader. Then followed official Government delegates and members of Parliament, with enfranchised and unenfranchised women, Italian women in ihe rear.

Large crowds watched tlie progress of the procession through the streets. Tho deputation was introduced by the Secretary of State, Signor Aserbo, who carried a symbol of old Roman times, the fasces, a bundle of ro3s, and a hatchet, symbolising strength in unity.

STgnor Mussolini reaffirmed his promise'to grant thp Italian women the municipal franchise with eligibility to office.