The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1920-03-30
HOPE EXPRESSED FOR
PAPAL-|TAL|AN PEACE
Cardinal Writes Pamphlet to
Open Negotiations With
Government.
BOOK SUBMITS PACT
Asks for Enough Territory
to Insure Vatican's
Independence.
BOOK SUBMITS PACT
By CAAIILLO CIANFARRA

RONE, March i. (by mail. "A
small pamphlet. issued by one of the
most prominent Catholic publishing
firms. signed by ''COnstantinus," but
whose author is admitted to be no
other than Cardinal Gasparri himself,
has just reminded the Italian nation
that. important as the Adriatic and
other questions are, that of the peace
with the Holy See. is still of the
greatest interest for the Italian peo-
pie.
The fact that up to date the State
Chancery of the Vatican has failed
to disavOw the contents of the book
or deny any connection with its pub
licatiOn. is regarded in the political
circles of the capital, as extremely
significant, and such as to justify the
most sanguine expectation for an ul-
innate satisfactory settlement of. the
Roman question.
Gives Treaty Draft.
The chief and most important fea-
ture of the pamphlet is a tentative
draft of a peace treaty between the
Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy.
which reveals the fine hand of the
consummate diplOmatist. In fact the
anonymous writer says that the chief
obstacle in the way for a speedy con-
clusion of the peace is only the open
ing of the negotiations. Once begun
the formulas for the solution of the
most thOrny problems would easily
be found.
First of all, what once was the |
most unsurmOuntable of obstacles, |
the restoration of the temporal power |
of the Pope. has been quietly yemov-
ed. The Vatican. in fact, renounces |
its territorial aspirations over the
provinces that once formed the So
called Pontifical States. The writer
says that what the Holy See now ,
wishes, is only a theoretical recog-
milton of its sovereignty over a frac-
tion of territory sufficient to insure
the political and religious independ- /
ence of the Papacy. Hence. even the
complete possession of the Vatican
palaces and gardens. of which the
Pope, under the Guarantee law, is
only tenant by the permission of the
Italian state. would be more than
sufficient and fully acceptable to the
Pontiff.
The first article of the tentative
peace treaty reads as follows:
"The state of war between the Ital-
ian Government and the Holy See.
which began at the outbreak of the
on the eleventh day of Sep
fember. 1870. and was suspended on
the 21st of the same month. is now
declared ended by both the high con-
.racting powers.
Article Second: The high contract
ng powers both, regard as permanent
he territorial situation resulting from
he war operations except in so far
t is modified by the present treay.
Wants Independence.
Article Third: The Italian govern
nent declares that the law of May 13,
1871, defining the legal status of the
POntiff constitutes solemn and ire
'Ocable declaration to the civilized
md Catholic world on the part of
he Italian government and people
the sovereignty and the
civil and religious independ-
,nce and liberty of the High POntiff J
Of the Catholic Church. Following
he restoration of peace diplomatic re-
ations lbetween the Holy See and the
Italian government will also be re-
'umed, and the Vatican will establish II
r Nunciature to His Majesty the King II
,f Italy while the latter will appoint
IN ambassador to the Holy See"
Under articles six and seven the
italian government agrees to recog-
lize the Holy See as a great power
and convert the yearly annuity of
hree million, which was given to the III
If revenues. in a fund the interests
Of which will be devoted to defray the
expenses of Catholic missions abroad
Articles eight, nine and ten are de-
roted to details and the appointment
If commission for the settlement Of
he territorial. financial and diploma
ic questions involved.
When the pamphlet is put in rela-
ion with Signor Nitti's repeated state
nent that he had the conciliation with
he Vatican in his pocket, the hope
hat a final settlement of the vexed
question is in sight can be regarded
rs more than well founded.