ADSS 1.277 Notes of Giovanni Montini, Secretariat of State: news from France

 ADSS 1.277 Giovanni Montini, Secretariat of State, notes.

Reference: AES 3316/40

Location and date: Vatican, 08.04.1940

Summary statement: French Ambassador, Charles-Roux (1), has given assurance of the good intentions of the French government to the Holy See; but he has noticed a change in the Italian attitude; France prepared to negotiate.  Internal situation in France.

Language: Italian

Text:

His Excellency Charles-Roux, French Ambassador to the Holy See, returning to Rome after a short stay in Paris, says that he has see the Prime Minister, M Reynaud (2), who had assured him about the keeping of good relations with the Holy See and about ecclesiastical affairs.

He brings news about Cardinal Verdier who has had an operation and must shortly have a second one.  His condition however is good and there is no cause for alarm (3).

Regarding the political situation he also noticed a stiffening of tone in the Italian

Press; and he mentions particularly, the Regime Fascista which published a violent leader against France (02.04.1940) and the Popolo d’Italia, no less insulting but with more authority (05.04.1940).  He states that France is still ready to negotiate and to make a distinction between Fascism and Nazism, while Italy seems hostile to any discussion: Italy must already be planning to obtain from a vanquished or exhausted France those advantages which it is unable to obtain now through negotiations.  To my remark that the proofs of the good intentions of France towards Italy are not well know to Italian public opinion, the Ambassador agrees that France would do well to clarify these good intentions.

On the Government position: the Radicals are convinced that they have made a mistake in overthrowing their leader, Daladier.  It would be more logical, in fact, for the Socialists to join forces now with the other parties in an effort to get rid of Communism.  He believes that the Socialists will be more loyal to the nation’s interests than to the interest of their Party (5).

Notes:

(1) Francois Charles-Roux (1879-1961), French Ambassador to the Holy See 1932-40.

(2) Paul Reynaud (1878-1966), French Prime Minister, March-June 1940.

(3) Jean Verdier (1864-1940), Cardinal Archbishop of Paris 1929-40.  Verdier died the following day, 09.04.1940.

(4) Edouard Daladier (1884-1970), French Prime Minister and Foreign Minister 1938-40.

(5) Compare this with the message of Raffaele Guariglia (1889-1970) Italian Ambassador in Paris 1937-40. See DDI, Series 9, Volume 4, n47, pp 33-34.

ADSS 1.223 Montini - notes on Christmas truce

 ADSS 1.223 Giovanni Montini, notes.

Reference: AES 8992/39

Location and date: Vatican, 07.12.1939

Summary statement: Michael Faulhaber (Munich) has intervened in favour of the Christmas truce.  Pope will try and obtain agreement of governments.

Language: Italian

Text:

During this morning’s audience, His Holiness ordered the Substitute to tell the Most Eminent Cardinal Secretary of State that His Eminence Cardinal Faulhaber (1) has begged the Holy Father to give his assistance in favour of the proclamation of a Christmas truce (without which, amongst other things, all Midnight Masses would be prohibited); and therefore His Holiness would like everything done to obtain the consent of the various Governments for the approval of the truce.

Handwritten note of Luigi Maglione, Secretary of State

07.12.1939

Yesterday I asked the Ambassadors of France and Germany and the Minister of Great Britain to sound out their governments (2).

Notes: 

(1) In a letter of 25.11.1939 Cardinal Faulhaber addressed the pope: “Your Holiness has probably already considered whether it would be possible to arrange a cease fire for all fighting and instructions for fighting, at least for Christmas Even and Christmas Day.  Those at the front as well as at home would welcome this most sincerely.”  In this way it would be possible to ask for the authorisation to ring the bells and to celebrate Midnight Mass.

(2) Francois Charles-Roux (1879-1961), French Ambassador to the Holy See 1932-40; Diego von Bergen (1872-1944), German Ambassador to the Holy See 1920-42; D’Arcy Osborne (1884-1964), UK Minister to the Holy See 1936-47.

ADSS 1.191 Montini & Tardini; notes: Italian neutrality

ADSS 1.191 Giovanni Montini, Domenico Tardini, Secretariat of State, notes.

Reference: AES 6388/39

Location and date: Vatican, 05-06.09.1939

Summary statement: Italian neutrality uncertain.  Pope sent Tacchi Venturi to Mussolini to plead for neutrality.

Language: Italian

Text:

This morning Don Clemente Principe Aldobrandini (1) told me in confidence that he has had occasion to see Minister Ciano and he has learned that Italian neutrality is still very uncertain.  Minister Ciano and the Under Secretaries of War, Navy and Air (2) are in favour of neutrality, while the Head of Government and Minister X, are in favour of going to war on Germany’s side. (3)  The news of the first German successes against Poland has reawakened the Duce’s bellicose spirits, after he had been restrained with difficulty by Minister Ciano, who hoped to be able to let the “Rex” and other two transatlantic ships sail in three days’ time (the sailing of the “Rex” is also announced by the shipping company), and in this way puts an obstacle to the start of hostilities.

The article that appeared in Popolo d’Italia on Monday evening, 4 September, is considered to have been written by Mussolini or certainly inspired by him.

Handwritten note by Domenico Tardini:

After this note – sent by Monsignor Montini – the Holy Father (today at 0900hrs) asked Fr Tacchi Venturi to come and see him and instructed him to see Mussolini and to congratulate him – in the name of His Holiness – for all he has done for peace and to advise him to continue in the same manner, keeping Italy out of the conflict. (4)

Notes: 

(1) Don Clemente Principe Aldobrandini (1891-1967), Duke of Sarsina and Carpineto. The Aldobrandini family were leading members of the Black Nobility and would have been mostly likely well known to the Pacelli family.

(2) Ubaldo Soddu (1883-1949) Under Secretary of War 1939-40, Domenico Cavagnari (1876-1966) Under Secretary of the Navy 1934-40, Giuseppe Valle (1886-1975) Under Secretary of the Air Force 1933-39.  All three were removed from their positions by Mussolini for various “failures” chief of which appeared to be a lack of belief in the Duce’s vision for a new Roman Empire.

(3) Not identified.

(4) Tacchi Venturi, Diary entry for 06.09.1939: “… at five minutes past eight in the morning I went to Castel Gandolfo, having been called there buy the Holy Father.  I returned at 09.45hrs”.  “At 17.45hrs audience with Ciano”.

ADSS 1.144 Montini & Tardini notes: French ask for Papal Statement for Poland

ADSS 1.144 Giovanni Montini & Domenico Tardini, Secretariat of State, notes

Reference: AES 6822/39

Location and date: Vatican, 28.08.1939

Summary statement: French Ambassador requests declaration from Pope for Poland; Pope says this would be too much – 40 million German Catholics – too much danger for them!  Pope has already expressed himself clearly. (1)

Language: Italian

Text:

The French Ambassador sends the following article. (2)

He adds this morning verbally that a word of a public gesture of the Holy See in favour of Poland would be very opportune, before she enters into the great trial which faces her.

His Holiness says that this would be too much.  We should not forget that in the Reich there are 40,000,000 Catholics.  To what might they not be exposed after such action by the Holy See!  The Pope has already expressed himself and clearly. (3)

Notes:

(1) The first paragraph was a typed noted of Montini; the second a handwritten note of Tardini. 

(2) François Charles-Roux (1879-1961), French Ambassador to the Holy See 1932-40.  Article was Georges Goyau Papauté et Pologne, Le Figaro 25.08.1939.

(3) D’Arcy Osborne, the British minister to the Holy See, received the same answer, which he passed on to the UK Government. DBFP, Series 3, Volume 7, n611, pp452-453.

ADSS 1.138 Montini notes: Romania and Hungary

 ADSS 1.138 Montini, notes

Reference: AES 5762/39

Location and date: Vatican, 26.08.1939

Summary statement: Romanian Ambassador suggests an approach by Budapest nuncio, to bring about a Romanian-Hungarian understanding for the common defence.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Romanian Embassy (1) at the Holy See thinks that an approach of the Apostolic Nuncio (2) would be well accepted and very opportune in persuading the Hungarian authorities to come to an understanding with Romania for the common defence of their independence.  Hungary has little choice: either to put up a common front of resistance with Romania, Yugoslavia and, later, Poland, or to become a German dependency.

Lately Romania has reinforced the frontier defence with some troops: Hungary has take umbrage at this: Romania has replied that this move had no offensive character; on the contrary Romania would have liked to take advantage of this occasion to reach a settlement of the Romania-Hungarian issues.  Hungary replied that it does not negotiate under the threat of cannon. (3)

Notes: 

(1) Nicola Petresco Comnene (1881-1958), Romanian Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-40.

(2) Angelo Rotta (1872-1965), Nuncio to Hungary 1930-45.

(3) Domenico Tardini added the following note: “29 August 1939. The Romanian Ambassador forgets that Hungary is already bound to the Axis.  Hungary will suffer all the consequences of this, if things go well.”  It was announced in the press on 28 August 1939 that Hungary had refused a non-aggression pact with Romania stating its preference to remain alongside Germany. Courier Mail, Brisbane, 28.08.1939, p2.