Evening star., 1928-10-21

by Arnaldo Mussolini, in which the
Duces brother complained of the
church's ingratitude, the Osservatore
Romano, the official organ of the
Vatican, said:
1T is to the credit of Fascism that
it has risen above the old radical
Masonic mentality of the past and re-
stored to God and His church what was
rightfully theirs. If Fascism continues
to pursue this course, the first to feel
it's benefits will be the state. For the
Italian people are neither Reds nor
Masons, but Catholics like their fathers.
However, the writer ,(MussolinD must
not say that the church is indebted to
the state for it's liberality. No, the
Fascist state, which is legal heir to
the Italy of yesterday. has rebuilt what
the old Masonic state had destroyed,
and only in part. In restoring this part
to the church, 1t has not restored it
to any men. but to God; and the writer
may rest assured that God has never
been surpassed in generosity, but pays
back at the rate of 100 to l. God and
His church are still creditors
Negotiations Handicapped.
This attitude has not only irritated
the Fascist, who have not been slow to
resent it, but has greatly handicapped
the negotiations for a solution of the
Roman question. Indeed, it has led to
cooling off of sentiment and has split
the ranks of the Fascist, many of
whom feel that MusSolini has been al
together too lenient in his dealings with
the church The Black Shirts blame
this attitude on Cardinal Gasparri,
who, they say, is an anti-Fascist. The
truth is that the cardinal is neither
anti-Fascist nor pro-Fascist, but simply
pro-church.
There is wing In the Fascist party
which has never favored reconcilia-
ton with the Vatican. This wing is
not particularly opposed to the church,
but feels that a solution of the Roman
question would not help Italy. 1t fears
that an independent papal state would ul-
timately lead to a non-Italian Pope-a
prospect which is not reliShed by any
italian. Moreover. they are afraid that
such a state might create serious inter-
national complications for Italy. They
are in favor of a policy which keeps the
question constantly on the verge of a
solution, but never actually leads to a
solution.
Religion" these Fascist say, sis di-
vine, but the Curia is human. Politics
can always get the best of the situa-
ton and create difficulties for the coun-
try" Mussolini does not share this
view.
From the standpoint of the church,
the solution of the Roman question Is
predicated on the restoration to the
Holy See of territory constituting in
every respect state per Sc. Again and
again spokesmen of the Vatican have
emphasized this condition. In an in
terView with an Italian newspaper man,
Cardinal Gasparri is quoted as saying,
What the Holy See must have for the
exercise of its mission is simply this
not only freedom and independence
from all earthly rule, but such freedom
and independence as will be evident to
the faithful everywhere" In other
words, sovereign state.
AS to Territory Involved.
How large this sovereign state is to
be and where it is to be are questions
that the Vatican has not answered.
The only information that churchmen
have ventured on the subject is that
the Holy See will be satisfied with any
strip of land which it may rightfully
call its own. In this connection the
Pope has used the term "minuscolo," or
literally 'tiny"
IN a pamphlet published last year
by "a well known Roman lawyer of
(Continued on Third Page.)