Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-09
Text of Document Is Kept
Secret, but Is Reported
ConciIiatory in Tone.
ACTION FOLLOWS VISIT
OF ITALIAN TO VATICAN
KNIGHTS of Columbus Notified That
Fairgrounds in Rome Can
Be Reopened.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, June 9.-The italian govern
mcnt today sent to Vatican City reply
to two notes of protest filed by Pope
Plus against dissolution of Catholic clubs
for laymen and anti-Catholic demon
STATIONS of the past two weeks.
The document was said to be concilia-
tory in tone.
1t was delivered by Count De Vecchi,
the Italian Ambassador, to Cardinal Pa
celli, the papal secretary of state.
Archbishop Borgongini Duca. papal
nuncio. met the Ambassador at the Vat
lean and the three statesmen conferred
for more than an hour.
Terms Not Disclosed.
Italy's reply to the Pope was said to
include answers to several points raised
by the Vatican regarding insults to the
Pontiff and demanding punishment of
those guilty, rtparations for alleged vio-
lat:on of extraterritoriality and an ex-
PLANTATION for the closing of the Catholic
clubs.
It's exact terms were not disclosed but
the intimation that its tone was one OF
Cancellation came from a thoroughly
responsible source.
1t could not be learned Immediately.
however, whether it constituted an
apology to the Vatican.
AS soon as Count De Vecchi left after
delivering the note Cardinal Pacelli
went to the Popes apartment. He in
terruptei audiences the Pontiff was hav-
ing and remained there an hour.
1t was assumed that the note dealt
extensively with the issue of the Cath
Ollie clubs. the major material problem
in dispute.
They we're closed because the gov
eminent contended their members were
participating in politics, charge which
the Vatican denies.
Compromise Suggested.
One compromise which has been sug-
geSted unofficially Is that the old clubs
be purified" by the expulsion of men,
bers inclined to take part in politics
and reorganiZed under more direct su-
pervision Of the church. Something OF
this sort has been done tentatively
in Northern Italy with the organiza-
ton of new congregations" whose
membership is much the same as that
Of the clubs which were dissolved.
For time it was feared that the
split between the church and the
state might result in diplomatic
break and the recall of the papal
nuncio in Rome.
Both sides indicated they were
anxious to avert any break which
might undo the work Of the Lateran
treaty and the concordst between the
government and the Holy See.
Informal negotiations for a settle
ment were conducted by Cardinal Gas
parri, retired papel secretary of state.
and the Marchese Pacelli, the Pontiff's
attorney.
These negotiations followed a series
of disturbances in which Fascist stu
dents attacked Catholic institutions and
were reported to have shouted insulting
rmarks concerning the Pope.
New Catholic clubs are being organ
lied as the result of the dissolution of
the young peoples group of Catholic
Action organization. They are being
founded throughout Italy under the
name of ConfraternitieS and they have
definite constitutions. Confratern1t1es
embrace practically the same members
as the dissolved clubs, except in some
particular instances, but are organized
on a different plan.
Under Parish Priests.
Instead of being formed into immense
groups of Catholic university students.
Catholic young mems organizations and
Catholic young women'S organ cations,
the new groups of parochial clubs are
under the direction of parish priests
and lay presidents. The priests are the
spiritual directors and the presidents
the administrative directors.
Confraternity presidents are appoint.
ed by a diocesan council composed OF
priests and lay leaders. Provincial gov
ernmentS in each district have given
tacit, though not formal, approval to
their formation.
The confraternitieS give as their
platform to help the poor, to succor the
sick ana to assist priests In religious
duties. Each confraternity is called by
the name of its parish. They are SIM
liar in scope under church law to the
old congregations of piety.
The knights of Columbus were re-
ported yesterday to have received notlf1-
cation from the government through the
police departm. mt that they would be
permitted to reopen their seven sports
fields and Fairgrounds in the city.
Edward Hearn, director of the
knights activities in Roma, declared,
however, that he was standing pat on
his refusal to open the Fairgrounds I'M
til the police returned the keys, which
he said they carried away from the San
Lorenzo club house.
He said he also expected IAN adequate
explanation" of the seizure of pap-rs at
the club house by the police.