The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-11
DUCE ARRIVES
TOO EARLY ON
VISIT TO POPE
Vatican Unprepared; Even
NeWSreeIS Miss Start of
Famous Audience.
LONG DISPUTE is ENDED
MuSSoIini Shows Intense
Interest in Ceremony;
CIoSeted an Hour.
BY THOMAS B. MORGAN
United Press stan Correspondent

VATICAN CITY, Feb. 1l.-Pre-
mier Benito Mussolini, active, DASH
ing head of the modern Fascist
state, arrived fifteen minutes early
today for his audience with Pope
Plus XII, ending the long dispute be-
lVeen church and state, and the
early arrival upset the routine of a
centuries-old Vatican ceremony for
receiving distinguished visitors.
Mussolini arrived at the Vatican
heading procession of five automo-
bileS escorted by carabineers in
flashing full-dress uniform. A band
heralded his coming.
He strobe smiling into the midst
of medieval picture Of papal SOL
diery in brilliant dress and papal
legates in ruffles and knee breecnes.
Arrival Unrecorded
The Vatican had not expected
II Duce so soon. Gendarmes still
were giving the last touch to prepa-
rations to receive him. Even mo-
ton picture men were caught with
their cameras unprepared. They
failed to record MuSsolini's historic
arrival.
Members of the papal household
were perplexed, but acted quickly.
Monsignor Arborio Mella advanced
and greeted the premier. Mussolini
was surprised. as we'll as the recep-
ton committee. Monsignor Mella.
escorted Mussolini to the Sala Gle
mentina where Monsignor Caccia-
Dominone, his round, smiling face
bobbing above his rotund body,
rushed to the lead of the stairs to
greet Mussolini in the name of the
pope.
Mussolini wore the uniform of the
prime minister, a cutaway coat
heavily embroidered with gold, gold
! striped trousers, and a hat resem-
bling an admiral's, but with much
gayer plumeS. He carried a short
ceremonial sword and wore brill
liant decorations.
Interested in FrescOes
The premier, obviously interested
intensely in the Vatican scene.
studied frescoes and tapestries of
the Sala Clementina carefully. He
greeted a group of Italian corre- \
spondents with the Fascist salute.
Smiling, he advanced with Mon
Slgnor Caccia within is head held
nigh, his jaw protruding, holding his
left hand on his sword, and swing
ing his right hand in cadence with
the step of the procession.
His encourage followed. Mon
slgnor Caccia pointed to the Swiss
guard of honor drawn up for Mus
Sollnl. The premier halted mo-
mentarily and cast his military eve
along the guards line. He noted
particularly the smartness and
rlgidity of the Vatican soldiers.
MusSolini conferred with the none
for an hour.
Emerging from the pope's private
library after his conversation with
the pontiff, Mussolini told Monsig-
nor Carlo Cremonesi, the pope's pri-
vate almoner:
I am greatly pleased. It was a
grand audience"
Subjects Not DivuIged
Mussolini knelt in prayer for two
minutes before st. Peters tomb and
before the blessed sacrament. He
crossed himself reverently.
Although neither the pope nor
Mussolini divulged the nature of
their conversation, there was I'M
usual pleasure in Vatican circles
over the length of the visit. as it is
unusual for the pope to find a Wis
itor interesting enough to talk
with for more than an hour. The
usual audience is limited to twenty
minutes.
1t was felt, therefore, that thew
had talked Of world problems. es-
pecially the economic situation and
the disarmament movement.
The pope gave Mussolini a mo-
rocco case, with the papal coat Of
arms engraved in gold, containing
a gold medal concentrating the
main event of the pontificate during
1881.