The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-28
Holy See Embarrassed the Quirinal in Possible
 Action
,VON JAGOW ON THE
 BELGIAN INVASION
Only Excuse Was That Frontiers of France Were Too Strongly F0rti- fled and That It Was Mat
 ter of Life and Death

London, March 27-(Special)- )-The Italian people clamor to be sent against their old arch enemy, Austria, but neither they nor ordinary observers here and in neutral countries are aware of the almost unsurmountable difficulties which the Italian government must over come before it can send its eager young soldiers out to fight for the realiza- ton of Italys dream of many decades.
 Among the obstacles which were in the way of 1taly's participation in the war the greatest now appears to have been removed. This obstacle was the Holy See, not the pope personally or any certain group of cardinals or bish- ops, but the Holy See as an institu- ton in the form which has never been given it by revolutions and the clever diplomacy of the House of Savoy.
 Since the day when the father of Italy. King Victor Emanuel, entered Rome and founded the unity of Italy, the House of Savoy has been acting so cleverly that the Roman question has practically ceased to exist. Tn reanry the pope no longer claims temporal power. which it would be impossible for him to enforce under modern conditions, and is satisfied to be the spiritual ruler of many millions of souls.
 Austria is the only power which still desires to see the restoration of the pope's temporal power, perhaps from pious reasons but much more likely be- cause of her perpetual desire to annoy Italy, the old natural enemy of the Hapsburgers.
 Very few people in the English speax- ing countries of the world have any idea what subtle diplomatic efforts have been necessary during the last 40 years to make it possible for two powers, of which one. pretends to be. the victim while the other is depicted as the exc cutioner. to inhabit the same city.
 Safeguarded POpe's Freedom
 The task has been. accomplished and should the pope decide to show himself in the city which once belonged to him he would be greeted by enthusiastic crowds numbering hundreds and thou sands. The King and Queen would be 2 the first to leave their modern automo- bile to kneel before him as his antique carriage passed them and kiss his be- jeweled hand. The pope today is merely an honorary prisoner.
 The Italian government may proudly say to Austria, Bavaria and America:
 We have at all times safeguarded the freedom of his holiness, who may at any time communicate freely with the whole Catholic world. Even at the present time, when the world is afiane, we have safe guarded the integrity of the conclave, and through our care cardinals of all coun- tries visit Rome and return unmolested to their own countries"
 To solve the difficulties engendered by the war regarding the position of the pope there were three ways
 Either the pope must consent to receive an Italian ambassador and send nuncio to the quirinal This would mean the for nal acceptance of existing conditions. This the pope is undoubtedly not yet pre- pared to do.
 Or the pope. accompanied by his court, must leave Rome during the duration of the war, a solution which is unacceptable, because the pope. having left Rome even for a single hour, could never enter again.
 The third and most practical solution is being discussed by the interested parties. It is hoped that on the day when Italy enters the war the pope will temporarily give leave to all foreign ambassadors at the Holy See, a step to which none of the Catholic powers can object.
 The Holy See will not now be the one to prevent the departure of the Italian army when the quirinal decides that the hour for action has struck.