The settlement of the question of the holy places in Palestine will soon be placed in the center of international interest through action expected to be taken by the Vatican, according to a report of the Italian news agency, Corrispondenza, said to be closely informed on the policies of the Holy See.
According to this report the Vatican holds views which are directly in opposition to those entertained by the British Government with regard to the control of the Christian Holy Sites in Palestine. Under the provisions of the Palestine Mandate, the Mandatory, that is, Great Britain, undertook full responsibility for the safeguarding and safekeeping of the Holy Sites before the League of Nations.
The Commission which was provided for in the Mandate has not yet been appointed to “study, define and determine the rights and claims in connection with the Holy Places and the (Continued on Page 4)
rights and claims relating to the different religious communities in Palestine.” The Vatican is said to be insisting on its demand that the Commission is to be composed of representatives of such powers who are members of the League of Nations, while the British Government is willing to have the Commission formed of representatives of the religious bodies concerned. Great Britain objects to the method proposed by the Vatican, according to the report.
It was stated here today that the Rev. Pietro Fumasoni-Bioni, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, who is now in Palestine for the Easter holidays, will confer with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury who is soon expected to arrive in Palestine, regarding the disagreement between the Catholics and the Protestants on the question of the Christian Holy Sites.
Article 14 of the Palestine Mandate provides that “the method of nomination, the composition and the functions of this Commission shall be submitted to the Council of the League for its approval, and the Commission shall not be appointed or entered upon its functions without the approval of the Council.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
