HISTORIC TREATY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16874, 11 February 1929, Page 7

HISTORIC TREATY

THE NEW PAPAL STATE PREPARATIONS TOR CEREMONY BELATED NEWS IN ITALY (Klec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.; (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.,! LONDON, Feb. 9. It is a curious fact that news of the settlement of the Roman question has, thus far, been withheld from the Italian public. The Italian press has been strictly prohibited from publishing anything; hence what the whole world already kuovvs will become official in Italy only tomorrow, when Mussolini will issue a simple communication to the public. Official agencies will communicate the news to the Italian press and the nation's first intimation will be given ou Sunday. The celebration of the seventh anniversary of the Pope's coronation ceremony, instead, as hitherto, being held in the Sistine Chapel, will be held in the Basilica of St. Peter's. At its conclusion, the Pope will appear at the loggia front of St. Peter's, accompanied by cardinals, and bless the people of Rome. He will also extend his blessing to the entire Roman Catholic world. Troops wiljl pay honors and a military salute will be fired from the batteries near Rome. The bells of St. Peter's and of all the churches in Rome will be rung. It is pointed out that the settles hient in no wise means that the Government intends to enforce .the canon law of the Roman Church in Italy. It is stated that no marked change is likely to occur immediately in the relations between the British Government and the Holy See. It has been suggested that now the Pope is in a position to leave the Vatican, he mr-y journey to London and return the State visit paid by Their Majesties to Rome in 1923. The Pope knows London, which he visited before his election, and speaks splendid English. Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether, he will leave the Vatican territory for some time. Should ho go to London, he would have to be received with full honors paid to sovereigns and would come, not as the head of a church, but as a king.

PREPARATIONS FOR SIGNING The Daily Express' special correspondent points out that the attitude of many Protestants in England towards the Holy See is decidedly militant,, and a State visit is likely to create a peculiar position. The present Pope's.last visit to London was in 1914, when he attended mass at Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Gasparri has caught a cold and has gone to bed with a high temperature. He hopes to recover in time to participate in the signing of the agreement between the Vatican and Italy on Monday at the Lateran Palace. The Pope, during the week-end, has, personally, given the final touches to the agreement in which his sovereignty is acknowledged of a small territory described as "the City- of the Vatican," which includes St. Peter's Square and many papai buildings in Rome, and provision is made for Italy's payment of an indemnity of about £21,600,000 in money in Government bonds. The Vatican has a secret printing house operated by a hereditary printer, with . trusted men, spending their lives in the same employment as their fathers and grandfathers. When specially secret documents are being printed, they are not allowed to leave its precincts or communicate with people even within the precincts. The Pope devoted Saturday to the final correction of the proofs of the historical treaty. He often paused, with pen in air, while he contemplated even a comma, saying there were cases when the presence or absence of a comma completely altered the meaning. Late at night the proofs were released for final printing. According to present plans, the text will be signed on Monday by Cardinal Gasparri and Signor Mussolini, and ratified later by the Pope and the King. Thereafter, it will be submitted to the Fascist Grand Council and then Parliament. Both the Vatican and the Government have agreed not to publish the texts of the treaty concordat until after the general "election in March. Therefore, only a short summary will be published at present. It is understood that Signor Mussolini-will issue a "loan of conciliation," which, it is expected, the people will cover immediately.