The Pope Intercedes For Peace

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 5

The Pope Intercedes For Peace

Hitler Willing for Mediation With Poles ?

FIVE-POWER TALKS MOOTED United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, May 9. Authoritative reports from European capitals confirm that his Holiness the Pope has been most active in the last ten days in endeavouring to suggest a pacific settlement of international problems. The Vatican City correspondent of the British United Press says that official circles confirmed reports that the Pope was trying to promote a solution of the German-Polish dispute, but they denied that he had suggested or was considering a five-Power conference, pointing out that his Holiness thinks that more can be achieved through diplomatic channels. The Holy See procedure in this connection is usually confined to “diplomatic persuasion and moral pressure,” though it is possible that the Pope would act as mediator if the disputants requested it. The Berlin correspondent of the Times says that the Pope's peace moves formed one of the chief subjects in the discussions between Herr Hitler and his Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, at Berchtesgaden. Official opinion indicated that Germany was at least prepared to acknowledge the honesty of the suggestions and would treat them as she did President Roosevelt 's message, although the Nazis’ dislike of international conferences makes their acceptance of any proposals regarding them unlikely. The British United Press correspondent at Paris says that the French Premier and Foreign Minister, MM. Daladier and Bonnet, discussed the Pope’s representations, which are described as being not of a concrete character but rather in the nature of suggestions. The Apostolic Delegate, xnonsignur Godfrey, visited the British Foreign Minister, Lord Halifax. Whitehall admitted that Monsignor Godfrey saw Lord Halifax to hand over a Papal message, but it was claimed* in view of Monsignor Godfrey’s non-diplomatic status, that Whitehall was unable to discuss or reveal the contents of the message. It is learned, however, that Monsignor Godfrey handed over a suggestion from the Pope for a five-Power (England, France, Italy, Germany and Poland) conference regarding Danzig and the Polish Corridor. The British United Press correspondent at Paris says it is reliably reported that the Pope suggested that the time might be ripe for mediation between France and Italy by a conference of the interested Powers at the Vatican France is lukewarm, contending thal the normal diplomatic channels are still open. Herr Hitler is reported to be not antagonistic to the suggested mediation between Germany and Poland, I but a five-Power conference is regarded as most unlikely. A Paris report says that Papal circles were instructed last week-end to mak< diplomatic representations to London Paris, Berlin, Rome and Warsaw, as i result of which England and France are reported to be consulting Poland. It is stated that the French Foreigr Minister’s, M. Bonnet’s, reply to thf Papal Nuncio was non-committal pending Cabinet consideration. A Rome message says that the Jesui' Father Peitro Tachiventuri, who was most prominent in the settlement of th< quarrel between the State and th« Church in 1929, is reported to be acting as the Pope's intermediary with Signoi Mussolini. In Berlin It is semiofficially stated that the visit of the Papal j Nuncio, Monsignor Orsenigo, to ! | Berchtesgaden, Herr Hitler’s mounj | tain retreat, on Friday was concerned with ihe Polish situation. Well-informed circles in Warsaw point out that Poland is strongly Catholic and would not sharply rejecl proposals from the Vatican, though il would probably want an understanding with England and France that any conference would not be similar to thal held at. Munich last Swtamhpr