OLD DISPUTE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 October 1927, Page 5

OLD DISPUTE

POPE’S TEMPORAL POWER.

SETTLEMENT LIKELY.

NEW <STATE * SUGGESTED.

BT CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPT BIGHT ROME, Oct. 14.

The long-standing dispute between the Pope and the Italian Government since 1870 is likely at last to be settled. The “Observatore Romano” publishes an official Note declaring that the Pope is awaiting the Italian Government ’s recognition of his temperal powers without the intromission of other (States. 'ln other words the declaration, which has been long expected. seems to mean that, the Pope has decided in favour of the Fascist Government’s suggestion to recognise the Pope as the sovereign possessor of the remainder of the former papal states On the other hand the “'Morning Post’s” Rome correspondent expresses the opinion that the restoration of some land is necessary, pointing out, in the words of the newspaper: “The Vatican will never invoke any international tribunal. It is awaiting a sense of rectitude and justice in the Italian people. The Pope is the sole judge of his own liberty, and at present does not feel free.”

LONDON. Oct. 13

The “Daily Mail’s” correspondent at Rome says the question of the relations between 'Church and State have tUken a new turn. The newspaper “'Observatore” has now disclosed the concessions that the Government might make to the Vatican in order to pacify the Holy See.

The “Observatore” says: “It is necessary that the Vatican should have temporal power in order to demonstrate its independence before the world. The Government should form a new Papal State, however tiny, over which the Holy 'See should have undisputed sway. This can be done without loss of prestige, since it would be restoring what was illegally taken away in 1870. The Vatican asserts that this is possible without the necessity of foreign intervention. ’ ’

The statement has caused a deep impression. Apparently Mussolini is about, to reap the fruits of his longsighted policy of pacification towards the Vatican.