South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-02
CLERGY INSTRUCTED TO
AID CIVIL OFFICERS
Understanding" is Reached
Regarding Attitude of Church
if War Comes But Details
Remain a Secret.

ROME. April THAT complete
understanding has been reached be-
tween the vatican and the quirinai
and that the next few months VIII
mark a complete change In Italy ;
policv toward the holy see has been
ronVeved by official announcement
that the Catholic clergy of the KING
dom has been instructed 10 lend It's
sincere and hearty cooperation 10 INC
civil authorities in pre- pairing the pe0-
qle TO face with courage ana IOruIuue
the hardships and sacrihces Whlcn d
bloody and long war might impose on
Them in the near future
At the same time this cooperation
was taken TO mean first step toward
an agreement between the church ana
the state and "A full approval on the
part of the pope of Italy's attitude IN
the present cOnfiagrauon.
Up until a few days ago, ltallan
public opinion was evenly divided as
10 the attitude the Vatican would take
in case events ultimately forced Italy
10 intervene in the conflict.
Dcnv Ambitious Tendency.
The pope's efforts to secure an
early peace. his diplomatic negotla-
1ions with both groups of bellgerents'
the sudden appointment of an Engllsh
ambassador TO the vatican, all tended
10 prove in the eyes q the pessimists
that Benedict XV. was endeavOring 10
secure for the holy see a commanding
place in the next peace congress.
Catholic circles and large number OF
Italians with vatican connections
deny any ambitious tendencies assert
ing that a series of diplomatic nego-
tiations between the Italian and the
vatican state ChancellOTies have re-
suited in a complete understanding
between the italian and the pOntiflcal
governments.
The most explicit, though Indirect
confirmation OF the changed attitude
of the vatican toward modern Italy
was furnished when Mgr Gavotu, in
taking possession of the arch diocese
Df GeOna delivered a speech which
glled with Joy every italian. For the
first time in half a century a repre-
sentative OF the vatican invited the
Hook to pray for "Our country and
Tor all the authorities that govern 1t;
for his majesty King Victor Emman-
uel III and the royal families. for the
military and civil authorities of the
diocese"
Solve Difficult Problem.
Thanks 10 the pOpe's patriotism the
most distressing and apparently un-
solvable question. that OF the dtplO-
mats accredited TO the vatican has
been solved I'm a way which Will insure
gratitude Of the nation. In case of
war the pope has offered TO ask for
the recall OF those diplomats be-
longing TO the nation against which
Italy would be compelled TO march.
on its part the government vii per
init the vatican state chancellory to
communicate with the warning na-
Jions through the neutral embassies
entrusted with the protection of Ital-
ian interests.
The position in which the vatican
would find itself in case OF Italy's in
Prevention in the war was another Of
the difficult questions which required
q solution satisfactory TO both parties.
THE vatican firmly stated that II would
not submit 10 any restriction Of it's
freedom OF communications and that
any act on the part of the italian
government To Curtail it's liberty
would be followed by strong protests
60 the European governments. Now
however. Catholic circles say that the
order issued TO the clergy 20 give
their fun support 10 the civil author
ities and work in harmony with the
government organs justihes the belief
that the foundations for a solution OF
The Roman question have already been
laid.
Details OF Solution a Mystery.
What this solution is nobody knows:
but the impression prevails that q
revision OF the guaranty law, which
now governs the relations between
the church and the state, has already
been undertaken. 10 is believed that
the chou0es 10 be made in the original
law while defining more accurately
Inc status of the molly see IN Italy.
VIII also increase the range of it's
freedom in it's international relations
lhus rendering II more Independent
pf outside interference.
FIRE LOSS 100000