POPE’S SOVEREIGNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 8

POPE’S SOVEREIGNTY.

PROBLEM SOLVED. PAPAL’ STATE TO BE FORMED. AGREEMENT REACHED. Australian Press Association.) ROME, Jan. 15. It is stated on good authority that an agreement has been reached in the solution of the Roman problem, under which the Italian Government will give the Holy See an extension of territory south-east of the Vatican Gardens. This will confer on it the right of extra-territoriality, and will form a small State on the lines of San Marino. The Holy See will also receive an indemnity of £40,000.

LINES OF COMPROMISE. ITALY ACTUALLY TO RULE. POPE'S NOMINAL SUPREMACY. LONDON, Jan. 10. The recent announcement by the Prime Minister of Italy, Signor Mussolini, of great events for the next Parliament has been interpreted as a hint at an epoch-making settlement with the Vatican. The Pope, probably, will be the first to make a public announcement, after the meeting of the new Italian Parliament, which then will immediately ratify the treaty, creating a sovereign Papal State, including the Vatican palaces and gardens, and the Church of St. Peter, and also taking in the grounds the Vatican recently bought with money lent from America, and the ground bought by the Knights of Columbus, Spanish nuns, and American Paulist Fathers. The State will have a railway station called St. Peter’s, on the Viterbo railroad, which also will function as a frontier station.

The Vatican will renounce the corridor to the sea, which at first \vas claimed. All the Vatican embassies will move into the new boundaries.

The Pope will agree to accept the money that Italy has set apart since 1870—amounting to neraly £130,000 a y ear —which hitherto he has refused. It is also reported that a large loan will be launched for the new State’s needs, and it is understood that the treaty with Italy will be registered with the League, of Nations, thereby obtaining an international character, and enabling the Vatican to participate in international conferences. The Rome correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company says that Italy will cede to the Pope a piece of territory, containing from 11,000 to 15,000 inhabitants, over which the Pope will have nominal sovereignty, while.ltaly actually rules it.