ITALIAN AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1945, Page 6

ITALIAN AFFAIRS

ANTI-ROYALIST MOVEMENT ROME, September 11. •Mounted carabihieri, light tanks, and armoured cars last night guarded the Quir in al. Palace, where the Lieutenant of the Realm (Prince Umberto) lives.. The precautions were taken after anti-monarch demonstrations organised by., the Republican Party-on the anniversary, of King., . Victor Emmanuel's’,flight from Rome after the armistice in 1943, which the Republicans -represent as an act of treachery to the nation. Similar ’ demonstrations occurred at Pescara, where, the King, in his flight, - reached - the Adriatic coast, and also at’Ortona, where the Royal Party shipped to Brindisi. The Republicans at Ortona later affixed a tablet to’ the harbour wall. The inscription reads: “From this port the last King of. Itly fled, leaving his martyred country to tha Germans. MILAN CLASHES DENIED

ROME, September. 11. An Italian communique denies a report* that eight British soldiers were killed in British and Italian clashes in Milan last week. The communique says that only one fatal incident occurred, when an Allied vehicle disregarded an order to halt. It adds that General Mark Clark s visit to Milan to decorate Italian partisans, which was reported to nave been postponed, will take place on September 15 or 16.

GENERAL EXECUTED. . (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) ROME, September 11. General Nicolo Bellomo, convicted of slaying two British officer prisoners of war, was executed at dawn to-day. VATICAN ANDCOMMUNISTS (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) VATICAN CITY, Sept. 11. “Observatore Romano” published excerpts from a joint pastoral letter from bishops in the Venetp region, warning Catholics against joining the Communist Party. The letter said Catholics adhering to Communism would be guilty of deserting the Catholic faith and collaborating in a system opposed to Catholicism. Should Communism control Italy the separation of the Church and State would mean that the State would become atheistic and agnostic, and Communism’s assumption of power unleash a battle against religion. “Is the fear that this can occur in the near future unfounded?" MISSION TO VATICAN WASHINGTON. Sept. .11. Mr Edward Flynn, after a visit to White House, announced that he would soon visit Rome and then Moscow to complete a special diplomatic mission he undertook for the late Mr Roosevelt. The Associated Press says the nature of'the mission was never officially announced, but it is<.reported, to be concerned with the effort to bring about a re-approachment between the Vatican and the Kremlin.