24 AUGUST 1889, Page 3

It seems to be now generally understood that, at a

Consistory held in June, it was determined that the Pope should leave Rome whenever he should receive notice from a friendly Power that a war was imminent in which Italy would be engaged. But this does not mean that he has determined to give up his residence in Rome and seek some other permanent seat of power,—which would be almost a break with history. It only means that during the period of any war in which Italy would be likely to be under special obligations to Protestant Powers, the Pope would seek some other temporary shelter,—probably in Spain. No doubt he would hope for some defeat of Italy of which the result might be the re-establishment, to a certain extent at all events, of the temporal power.