“CATHOLIC AXIS”

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21655, 16 February 1942, Page 5

“CATHOLIC AXIS”

GENERAL FRANCO’S PLANS (United Pmss Assn.— Eiec. Tei. copyright) WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 The New York Post’s Buenos Aires correspondent says an informed diplimatic source asserts that General Franco plans the formation of a Catholic Axis by Vichy, Spain and Portugal, in which he will be joined by Portugal’s Premier, -Dr. Salazar. The principal duty of the Catholic Axis will be to capitalise on the leaning to Fascism of strongly Catholic circles in Latin-America. Archbishop Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, issued a statement on behalf of the Papal Secretary of State denying that the Vatican attempted to interfere in the Inter-American Conference of Foreign Ministers held at Rio de Janeiro last month. Reports to this effect had been disseminated in Latin-America by Axis agencies, also by Italian radio broadcasts. The statement added: “ It has been asserted that the Pope received the Spanish Ambassador in the presence of South American diplomats and made insinuations against the conference. The fact is that the Pope never received the Spanish Ambassador together with the South American diplomats. When tne Spanish Ambassador was recently received in audience alone the Pope appropriately expressed the hope that Spain will always remain faithful to its Catholic traditions. It is known, furthermore, that foreign radio stations have been using the name of the Holy See in propaganda campaigns in South America. Naturally the Holy See cannot assume responsibility for broadcasts of this kind.