Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-03
Pontiff Says Fascist Party
Has Violated Both Right of
Church and Natural Law
"Made for Good of Souls"
COLLEGE OF CHAPLAINS
HEARS PAPAL ADDRESS
Plus Sees in Stand of Mussolini
Government Manifestation That
Devil Has Shown Himself Dis.
contended "-Grandi Ignores
Issue Before Senate.

ROME, June 5 (HD.-The dlrec-
torate of the Fascist party,
headed by Premier Mussolini,
tonight issued a call to all Fas-
cists to defend their achieve
ments against anti-FascistS
under whatever banner" a
phrase which was interpreted
as referring to the Catholic
Action Organization.
The directors, after long
meeting in MusSolinis office,
issued a statement in which
they declared their respect for
the church." it's head and its
leaders, but firmly decided not
to tolerate a situation under
which whatever remains Of
anti-Fascism should find a
refuge and a protection under
whatever banner, new or old"
1--WE order" the official state
ment said, 1.-The 5000 Fascist
groups of Italy to guide their
action by these directions, re-
Numbering that those who fell
for the revolution demand that
it be defended at whatever
cost"
~ the Associated Press.
ROME, June 3.-In speech tc
the College of Chaplains Of Immi-
grants, reported today in the
newspaper Osservatore Romano
Pope Plus last night heaped ridi-
cule upon official statements by
the italian government in connec-
ton with the dissolution of all the
Catholic youth clubs in Italy.
That dissolution, he said, vio-
lated the right of the church to
guide young people and violated
also the natural law, made for
the good Of souls" under which
men form themselves into asso-
Citations.
Both Stand Pat.
The Pope and Premier Mussolini to-
day were adhering to their original po-
sitions in the crisis without any ap-
parent move to seek a settlement, al
though Cardinal Pietro Gasparri was
continuing his conciliatory efforts.
Beneath the surface, spokesman on
both sides say. there was some sort
of activity to prepare the ground for
serious negotiations, but its nature still
Tho pnnfiH continued
to emphasize his strong support of the
Catholic Action Clubs and to insist they
never had engaged in political propa-
ganda.
A number of leaders of Catholic young
peoples organizations have been arrest
ed on political warrants signed by the
project After being questioned they
we're held for further disposition, which
may mean confinement to the Island
of Lipari.
Among those arrested was Attorney
Corsanego. honorary general president
of the Italian Catholic Young People
Organization. He received from the
project a political admonition," a
measure which usually Immediately pre-
cedes exile to the prison island.
Mussolini Silent.
II Duce himself remained silent, but
let it be known that there was nothing
temporary about his acts, by state
ment saying the clubs were closed per-
manently.
Directors of the Fascist party met
this afternoon and Foreign Minister
Dino Grandi spoke before the Senate.
Grand left the church and state issue
entirely out of his annual report, con-
fining himself to less controversial mat
Ln hofOrohord that he
would not discuss the conflict between
the government and the Vatican at any
great length, for that issue is entirely
in the hands of Premier Mussolini, but
it had been expected that he would
touch upon it, Instead he reviewed the
commercial treaty with Soviet Russia
and issues involving Italy and the
League of Nations.
In addressing the chaplains last night
the Pope ridiculed and denounced the
governments official communique, as
sorting that Catholic societies mot di-
rectly connected with the Nationalist
FASCIST party" had been dissolved with
out the slightest incident"
The phrase Not directly connected
with the Nationalist Fascist party"
the Pope said, does not refer to organ
izations directly connected with a re-
gine or with state, but with party
as if a party could give that which
no human regime, government or
state can give"
Expression Worth Treasure"
AS for the phrase, without the slight
est incident" the Pontiff declared:
That expression is worth a treasure.
It is enough to think of all the Incl
dents, the irreverences, indecencies and
vandaliSms in Rome and in the smaller
cities; in the edifices which enjoy extra
territoriality. It Is enough to consider
the offenses to the person Of the Su-
preme Pontiff.
not taken by legal means because the
Catholic Action Society is under the
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