VATICAN AND SPAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 211, 6 August 1937, Page 8

VATICAN AND SPAIN.

ATTITUDE DEFINED. TO FRANCO GOVERNMENT. Received August 6, 10.10 a.m. ROME, Aug. 5. The official Vatican spokesman, with reference to the reports of the Vatican’s recognition of General Franco’s Government, said to-day: “It is true that the Vatican has approved the choice of Senor Chnrruca as General Franco’s representative in the Holy See. It is also true that the Pope has sent to Nationalist Spain Monsignor Antoniutti, who lias been instructed to attend to Church interests in the territory occupied by General Franco’s troops; but neither representatives have been granted the diplomatic immunity a.utomatically resulting from norma] diplomatic relations. It might be said that there is recognition de facto but not de jure by the Vatican of the Salamanca Government.”

Diplomatic circles closely in contact with the Vatican believe that- this distinction is made by the Church to avoid antagonising Valencia, thereby protecting Catholics under Valencia’s .authority.

CARGO FOR SANTANDER. BRITISH SHIP ENTERS PORT. Received August 5, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 5. The Daily Telegraph’s Santander correspondent says: “Disregarding warnings from a British destroyer about what she insisted was a ‘non-existent danger,’ the Newcastle steamship Hilmfren entered Santander, being the first British vessel to arrive for 34 days, with a cargo of foodstuffs. Shcwas warmly welcomed.