The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-12
BY WILLIAM F. MONTAVON
Written for United Press


WASHINGTON, June 12.-Infor-
nation now available shows that
during the rioting which occurred
in the city Of Rome on the night
OF May % and the morning Of May
%, grave offenses were committed
against several stipulations Of the
Lateran treaty and concordat con-
cluded last Feb. IL, 1929.
L'Azione Cattolica, together with
its affiliated organizations, is recog-
nized specifically in Article 43 Of the
concordat The official action sup
pressing the Catholic clubs or
ganized and conducted by Azione
is direct violation Of the stipu-
lation which reads:
The italian state recognizes the
auxiliary organizations of the
Azione Catolica Italiana, inaSmuch
as these, according to the regula-
tons of the Holy See, carry on
their activities Independently Of all
political parties"
Granted Guaranteed Immunity
Article is of the Lateran treaty,
between the Holy See and Italy,
grants to the Chancert palace ex-
ira territorial status and the i'm
Inunity guaranteed by international
law to the embassies of foreign
countries" The invasion Of this
building, which is on italian terri
tory, by Fascist rioters calls for
some act of reparation from the
italian government.
Article Of the Lateran treaty
guarantees to the pope in Italy
treatment like that accorded to the
sovereign Of Italy. Obviously for
the rioters to cry Down with the
pope!" Death to the pope!" and
to denounce the pope as traitor,
trampling his portrait under foot,
calls for some act Of reparation and
satisfaction from the government Of
Italy.
Events Immediately leading UP to
this crisis began on April 81 when
Deputy Giovanni Giurriati, secre-
tary and recognized spokesman Of
Fascismo, ina speech at Milan
made a violent attack on Azione
Cattonca, charging that it pursued
political ends and declaring that
its activities could not and would
not be tolerated because they were
in conflict with the integral" ma
ture of the Fascist regime and Of
the Fascist corporate state.
Denied Truth Of Charge
Azlone denied the truth Of the
charges and the holy father in a
letter to the cardinal archbishop Of
Milan pointed out that Giurriati
in reality had attacked the liberty
of education guaranteed by the con-
cordat of 1929. Calling attention
to the fact that he has repeatedly
given credit to Fascismo for what
it has done for education, the pope
said:
us it not superfluous to add that
in this very field (education), spe-
cifc competece and authority belong
to the Catholic church, and the
Fascist regime has the duty not
only to follow the church's teaching,
but also to favor their practical
application"
The pope continued his letter
with an appeal for calm thinking
and suggested that associations Of
Catholics, and especially L'Azione
Cattolica, could cooperate with the
Fascist state with profit to all.
Following this. incident, Lavoro
Fascista, Fascist organ and LOS
servatore. Romano, published in
Vatican City, took up the contro-
versy in numerous lengthy edito-
rails in some Of which strong Ian
guage was used.
Mere Act of Bully
No effort seems to have been
made by the Italian authorities to
follow up in any orderly manner
with the church authorities the
charge that Azione was acting po-
litically in contravention of the
concordat, nor was any evidence
produced to support that charge.
The violence of May 1929 appears
now to have been little more than
the act of a bully.
No evidence has been presented
which would justify the Reputation
by Italy Of the Lateran agreements.
Under these circumstances, to fail
to take action commonly required in
any similar international crisis
would expose the Mussolini admin
istration to the world as govern
nent that either is unwilling or UNI
able to live up to solemn engage