The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-15
HvnBERT And LEO.
Negotiations in Progress Between
Italy and the Vatican.
INTERVIEW WITH HIS HOLINESS

In Which the PohtiT Says the Real
Solution Is the Restoration of
Rome-He Believes IL Possible on
New Basis-A Diplomatic Confer
ence Likely.
PARIS, Feb. 15.-Negotiations with n
view to the adjustment of the Roman
que: tion have been opered by the pope
and King Hnmbert. The person who is
acting as the intermediary is Roman
prince whose father once occupied ahigh
position Mt the Vatican and whose wife
is very close to Queen Margherlta. He
has been charged by the king to discuss
matters with his holiness.
According to trustworthy informa-
ton, he has already had short inter-
view with the pope, who has assured
him that he is ready to enter into pour
parlers with view to making peace
with Italy if Rome is restored to him.
He is said to have expressly remarked:
The Pope's Demands.
"The real solution of the Roman ques-
ton is the restoration of Rome. This
question once solved, Italy could de-
vote herself to the improvement of her
finances, and might even disarm. No
one would think of attacking her. Far
from weakening Italy, the restoration
of Rome would strengthen her. You
see, we are quite ready TO be reconciled."
The royal delegate was SO astounded
by this answer that he could make no
comment and left the papal chamber.
The pope smiled when he told the car
dinals what had occurred
But the negotiations will not end
there. The pope, according to the dip
lomatic custom of the vatican, will de-
mand great deal to obtain something
lesss.
Nobody at the vatican believes that
the talked of restoration of the temporal
power as it was before 1870 is possible.
The idea of the the pope is that recon-
ciliation is possible upon another basis.
However, it is certain that the court
and the vatican are mutually preiudiced:
that they have feelings on points of SUI
premacy and precedence. The pope can
not leave his palace prison without run
ming the risk of meeting the king in the
streets. The latter might feel himself
Obliged to uncover his head and to bend
the knee to receive the papal benediction.
Traaesmem Dissatisfied.
On the other hand, the sojourn of the
pope in Rome is disagreeable to the court
because Of the imp0ssibility of avoiding
conflict. The dlminution in the num-
Der of pilgrims to the city following the
late disorder has made tradesmen
grumble.
The workingmen are organizing and
working to bring about revolution
which will sweep away both royalty and
papacy. Recognizing this danger the
pope makes these propositions: That
Rome should continue " be the capital
of a shadowy Italian kingdom: that the
king should keep the quirinal and
come there occasionally; that part of the
administration should remain there; that
parliament should be opened in Rome
in presence Of The king, SO that the na-
tion should not have u preteXt to pro-
test; that the pope should maintain his
sovereign prerogatives Mt the vatican,
and be entitled to the existing benefit of
extraditorialism and keep up his house,
hold.
A Diplomatic Conference.
The papal court would regain its for
mer splendor once it has ceased to be
embarrassed by the presence Of a rival
court.
All points of precedence would be set
tied by diplomatic conference. The
police, the army and the municipal gov
ernment would remain under the con-
troll of Italy. Bat the pope would leave
his palace when the Italian court was
not in Rome, and he would regard him
self as being in his own city
The king would make Florence his
headquarters and tho heir apparent
would inhabit Naples. The other mem.
bers of the royal family would make
Turin their place of residence. Rome,
it is thus supposed, would get back its
magniticencc and once more become par
excellence the ecclesiastical city of Italy
much as certain quarters in most cities
are chiefly colonized by priests and pious
people.
The plan is the pope's. It has tillnow
been kept secret. What hope it has OF
being adopted is, of course, unknown.