Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Vatican Reported Acting to Protect Catholic Interests in Palestine

August 12, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

THE VATICAN HAS INTERCEDED IN THE PALESTINE SITUATION TO INSIST THAT CHRISTIAN INTERESTS IN THE HOLY LAND BE PROTECTED AND WARN OF SERIOUS OMISSIONS IN THE PARTITION PLAN, IT WAS LEARNED IN CATHOLIC CIRCLES HERE TONIGHT, ACCORDING TO THE HAVAS NEWS AGENCY.

The Holy See was said to have addressed a formal communication to the British Government expressing the view that grave inconvenience might result to Christian interests from the application of the plan unless arrangements were mace to safeguard them beforehand.

IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE VATICAN NOTE WAS HANDLED DISCREETLY BY THE COLONIAL OFFICE AND THE MATTER WAS TAKEN IN HAND BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE, WHICH WILL DEAL WITH THE DIPLOMATIC ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM.

THE VATICAN WAS SAID TO HAVE DECLARED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE THAT THE STATUS OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND THE HOME OF THE SAINTS COULD BE SETTLED WITHOUT CONSULTATION BEFOREHAND WITH ROME.

RECALLING THE IMMENSE SPIRITUAL INTERESTS FOR WHICH THE POPE WAS GUARDIAN IN PALESTINE, THE LARGER NUMBER OF CONVENTS, ETC., THE HOLY SEE STRESSED IT WAS UNTHINKABLE THAT THESE SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER ISRAELITE OR ARAB AUTHORITIES.

IT WAS SAID TO HAVE ASKED THAT NEGOTIATIONS BE OPENED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THESE INTERESTS.

THE CATHOLIC CIRCLES HERE WHICH WERE AUTHORITY FOR THIS INFORMATION CRITICIZED THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PALESTINE AFFAIR WAS BEING HANDLED. THEY ADDED THAT THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH IN JERUSALEM ALSO INTENDED TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF THE STATUS OF CONVENTS AND RELIGIONISTS IN THE HOLY LAND.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement