IN LATIN AMERICA

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1942, Page 5

IN LATIN AMERICA

PAPAL INTERFERENCE DENIED

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14. Archbishop Giovanni Cicognani, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, has issued a statement on behalf of the Papal Secretary of State, denying that the Vatican attempted to interfere in the inter-American coniference of Foreign Ministers held in Rio de Janiero last month. Reports to this effect had, he said, been disseminated in Latin America by Axis agencies and also by Italian radio broadcasts. ! The Apostolic Delegate’s statement added: “It has been asserted that the Pope received the Spanish AmbassaI dor in the presence of South American diplomats, and that he made insinuations against the Rio de Janiero conference. The fact is that the Pope never received the Spanish Ambassador together with South American i diplomats. When the Spanish Ambasisaaor was recently received in an 'audience, he was alone. The Pope apIpropriately expressed his hope that Spain will always remain faithful to i its Catholic traditions. It is known, : furthermore, that foreign radio sta- , tions have been using the name of the JHoly See in propaganda campaigns 'in South America. Naturally, the Holy ■ See cannot assume responsibility for broadcasts of this kind.”

“CATHOLIC AXIS”

NEW YORK, Feb. 14

The “New York Post’s” correspondent at Buenos Aires says: An informed diplomatic source here asserts that General Franco plans the formation of a Catholic Axis, by the Governments of Vichy, Spain and Portugal, in which plans he will be joined by Portugal’s Premier, Dr. Salazar. The principal duty of the Catholic Axis would be to capitalise on the pro-Fascism of the stronglyCatholic circles in Latin America. NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR MEXICO CITY, Feb. 14. Mr. George Messersmith is the new United States Ambassador to Mexico. He was formerly Consul-General in ! Berlin. He has related to the Press here that in 1934 he had a conversation with Marshal Goering in which Marshal Goering, with truly German modesty, said: “Our only concern is that all America south of the .Rio Grande shall be ours.” Mr. Messersmith stated Marshal Goering I spoke thus during a discussion of the Monroe Doctrine. I CONSCRIPTION IN CUBA

HAVANA, Feb. 14. All the men in Cuba between 18 and 25 will shortly register for military service, after which all the able-bodied men without dependents will be mobilised.