ITALY AND VATICAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 9

ITALY AND VATICAN.

SIGNATURE OF, AGREEMENT.

DATE FIXED FOR SUNDAY.

Australian and N.Z. Tress Association. ROME, Feb. 5

It is asserted on reliable authority that the agreement between the Vatican and the Italian Government, drafted- on February 2, will be signed on February 10.

Under this the Popo will be declared tho possessor, with sovereign rights, of the Vatican Palace and gardens, the Basilica of St. Peter's arid all the ecclesiastical palaces in Rome, which the State possessed in 1870, and the use of which only was allowed the Church. The official announcement, of the signing of the agreement will bo made by the Pope on February 12, the anniversary of his enthronement.

The Rome correspondent of tho British United Press Association reports the Pope as saying: "My first visit will be to Milan." •

SETTLEMENT OF DETAILS.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

Times Cable. LONDON. Feb. 5. Tho Milan correspondent of tho Times reports that he has learned that the financial details of the Vatican's agreement with the Quirinal have been settled. The Popo will accept 1,000,000,000 lire (about £12,000,000) as representing tho capitalisation of the annual donation assigned to tho Popo under the Law of Guarantees, but jot paid since 1870. Tho sum will bo paid to an institution independent of both the Government and the Vatican, which aids poor churches. King Victor took a notable part in the negotiations, which entered a practical and decisive phase after; His Majesty's conversation with Cardinal Mafli in the summer of 1928.