VATICAN INTERVENTION DENIED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 5

VATICAN INTERVENTION DENIED

SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS Washington. Feb. 14. Archbishop Giovanni Cicognanr. 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 Conference of Foreign Ministers held at Rio de Janeiro last month. Reports t.- this effect have been disseminated in Latin America by Axis agencies and also Italian radio broadcasts. The statement added. “It has been asserted that the Pope received the Spanish Ambassador in the presence of the South American diplomats and j made insinuations against the confer- | ence. The fact is that the Pope never received the Spanish Ambassador together with South American diplomats. When the Spanish Ambassador lccently received an audience alone the Pope appropriately expressed the hope that Spain will always remain faithful to it: Catholic traditions. It is known, furthermore, that foreign radio stations have been using the name of the Holy See in propaganda : compaigns in South America. Naturally the Holy See cannot assume responI sibility for broadcasts of this kind.”— I P.A.