MALTA AND HOLY SEE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 9

MALTA AND HOLY SEE

CHURCH INSISTS UPON HER GUARANTEES STATEMENT BY THE POPE Times Cable. LONDON, Wednesday. The Malta correspondent of “The Times” says: “It is evident that the Holy See has no present intention of fulfilling the conditions which the British Government declares to be indispensable for a resumption of full diplomatic relations. The Vatican’s official organ, “Osservatore Romano,” publishes a long article, the gist of which is a denial of undue interference on the part of the Maltese bishops in party politics. The article maintains that the bshops had a right and a duty to warn the electors against Lord Strickland’s pretensions to be persona grata with the Vatican, and to insist on the maintenance of guarantees for the defence of the Roman Catholic religion which were given when the British Government first took possession of the island. A message from Rome, dated July 2, says the Pope held a secret consistory, at which five new c.ardfnals were nominated. His Holiness delivered an allocution, in which he referred to the Malta crisis. “The present storm,” he declared, “has not been raised by the Holy See or the bishops in Malta. The restoration of peace has been made impossible, in spite of a "rightful and sincere desire on our part, because of the conduct of persons and because of facts altogether outside our will. "The situation is grave. The question had been discussed with the British Government, with whom the Holy See is in friendliest relations. We hope most confidently to see these relations grow ever more intimate and cordial.”