ITALY AND VATICAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20950, 13 August 1931, Page 11

ITALY AND VATICAN.

CATHOLIC ACTION DISPUTE. ALLEGED LACK OF TACT. LONDON. August G. A correspondent of the Times, writing from Italy, says that however sharply Italians are divided on the rights and wrongs of the dispute between the Government and the Vatican over the Catholic Action Party, both are held by almost universal consent to have bungled tho affair with deplorable tactlessness. Undoubtedly, the Catholic Action Party was not directed in strict accordance with the Pope's behests, and as a non-political organisation. On the other hand, tho Pope has been keenly criticised, not only for the tenor of the actual wording of portions of his last encyclical, but for the unprecedented action by which the document was hawked around and published abroad even before it appeared in the Osservatoro Romano, the official organ of the Vatican. The dispute has been exacerbated by two exceptionally obstinate and pertinacious men, determined to uphold their respective rights and ideals, but, tho fundamental conflict is for control of Italy's youth. There cannot be genuine peace as long as Fascist ideals are unchanged. The Disarmament Conference may influence the issue. There will be no further need to nourish Italy's youth on ideas of war and conquest if tho Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, is allowed to operate the pacific sentiments that he has been enunciating with increasing fervour lately.