The Washington times., 1915-05-23
States Suspension of Immunity
to Diplomats to Holy See
May Cause Trouble.
POPE MAY LEAVE ROME NOW
Austrian and Bavarian ENJOYS
May Refuse to Leave With
Other Ambassadors.

LONDON, May 23.-Reports are cur
rent that the entrance Of Italy into the
war may precipitate a Vatican crisis
such as the Catholic world has not
known since Plus TX went to Gaeta.
The Italian government has suspended
that article of the law of guarantees
which assured to the Vatican direct con-
nection with governments outside of
Italy by means of diplomatic represen-
tatives at the Papal headquarters.
Rome dispatches have hitherto indi-
Gated that the amba assador of Austria
Hungary and the minister of Bavaria
at the Vatican would leave Rome along
with the representatives Of Austria and
Germany attached to the Quirinal. 1t
is obvious that with Italy in a state of
war with Austria and Germany the
presence of the Austrian ambassador
and the Bavarian minister to the Vati-
can would be anomalous and would GER
tainly give rise to suspicion that they
might use their diplomatic privileges to
the advantage of Italy's enemies. In
view of the tendencies shown by some
members of the Papal encourage the
Italian uneasiness on this score Is said
to be very marked.
If the report from Turin that the
representatives of Austria and Bavaria
at the Vatican had received orders from
their respective governments TO remain
at their posts until they are forcibly
elected is correct 1t is thought here
possible that the Vatican may mark its
resentment at the partial suspension
of the law Of guarantee by leaving
Rome.
AS against this belief there is to be
counted the tenacity with which the
last three Popes have maintained their
determination to remain in the Eternal
City, despite the attractive invitations
which they are reported to have re-
ceived from representatives Of Catholic
populations of other countries, particu-
larly the United States.
ON THE ITALIAN FRONTIER, May
22.-Dispatches from Rome say that in
case the ministers Of Prussia and Ba-
varia to the Vatican are compelled to
leave Rome, they have decided to es-
tablish themselves at Lugano. the near
est town in Switzerland to the Italian
border.
For ages, until Plus ks reign. the
Pontiffs bC'e temporal sway over an
area of 5000 square miles in Central
Italy OF this domain Romagna. Um-
bria, and the Marches were incorpor-
ated into the Italian kingdom In 1860.
There remained the Eternal City and
its outlying districts. These We're ruled
oXer by Plus TX until the French garri-
sob was withdrawn on account of It's
bing needed in the Franco Prussian
war in the summer of 1870: the Italian
troops entered the city on September
20. Soon afterward the capital OF the
kingdom was transferred from Turin
TO Rome
Some arrangement with the Vatican
became necessary, as the Vatican still
regarded itself as a temporal power
which had been despoiled of its lands,
but not conquered, by another temporal
powerfully. This arrangement, which
was never recognized by the Vatican.
was the law of guarantees passed by
the Italian parliament on May 81, 1871.
By this Pope Plus TX and his success
sors forever were allowed to occupy the
Vatican and Its dependencies rent free,
while the Italian government pledged
to the Pope an annual indemnity OF
e645.OoO, which has never been claimed
or paid to this day and now amounts to
$29, ,O25, 900.
At the time OF the election OF Pope
Leo XIII in 1878 the cardinals OF the
conclave, on account Of the threatening
attitude Of the Romans, were for ad-
Journing to Civita Necchia to hold the
election there. They We're informed
however, that II they once left the Vati-
can 1t would be regarded as an act of
abdication and the government would
then take possession.
Thus the head of the church has con-
tfnued to exercise its functions as a
temporal sovereign. AS a temporal SOW
ereisn he has continued to exchange
Ian government granting to the foreign
representatives to the Papal Court the
same right of immunity which Is grant
ed to diplomats at the Quirinal
According to some Catholics the fact
that Italy Is at war should make no
difference with the Vaticans diplomatic
status. but the virtual impossibility OF
having in Rome representatives. OF
states with which the kingdom is at
war Ia obvious.
So Italy still holding that the Pope
occupies the Vatican as a tenant and
not a s sovereign owner. has Cancelled
the immunity granted to DIR. Won Muhl-
berg. Prussian minister to the Vatican,
ana Prince Won Schonburg- -Hartenstein
the Austro- Hungarian.
Pope BENEDICT a few days ago recalled
the Natican's representative to Prussia
Dr. A. Fruhwirth the apostolic nuncio
10 Bavaria, and Mgr Count Scapinerli
di Leguigno. the Vatican's representa-
tive at the court of Francis Joseph. not
on the ground, however. that he re-