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 1.66 Valeri to Maglione: tensions in France

ADSS 1.66 Valerio Valeri, France, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: Report 8493/193 (AES 4037/39)

Location and date: Paris, 20.06.1939

Summary statement: Nuncio has met Ambassador Charles-Roux who regrets the Holy See’s attitude towards Germany.  Nuncio pointed out the Holy See’s need for impartiality.

Language: Italian

Text:

On the 12^th June the Ambassador Charles-Roux called on me and spoke about several questions. (1) I think it right to report about this to your Eminence because on some questions he was undoubtedly voicing the Quai d’Orsay’s ideas, or of some of its officials, and, on the other hand he will probably never voice these ideas with the same frankness in his conversations with your Eminence.

The Ambassador told me that in political circles here there is the common impression that the difference of attitude (“reaction” – he said) of the present Pontificate, in comparison with the previous one, is excessive.  “Without doubt – so he expressed himself – all expected a change, because each one has his own temperament and his own methods; to many however, the difference seems excessive.”  And he particularly mentioned the fact that the Holy See has become silent regarding the religious persecutions in Germany.

I replied to M. Roux [sic] that probably this was due to the fact that the persecutions had decreased and therefore prudence, if not justice, suggested waiting while helping the growth of better attitudes on the part of the German rulers.

The Ambassador replied that the persecutions were still rampant and he had recent news, especially from Austria, that things were as before,  He admitted, however, that in the German Press the attacks against the Holy See had diminished and were less violent.  This, however, was the only improvement.

I then drew attention to another aspect of the question, pointing out to the Ambassador that the Holy See, in a moment so grace in international life, has to make the last attempt on behalf of peace and this would be impossible if the Holy See did not keep some contact with the two blocs in which Europe is now divided.  To this remark M. Roux replied that the Holy See can perform its activity in two ways, either through diplomacy or be asserting the principles which stand against the theories now in fashion; and this second mode of action , according to his opinion, seemed to him safer.

I tried to make clear to him that in this case only war would remain to sort out the issues, but he did not appear frightened by this prospect,  I could have added that on other occasions the same French Government had asked the Holy See to intervene by using diplomacy, I the interest of peace, but the Ambassador knew this better than I. (2)

The conversation ended with discussion of the filling of vacant sees.

Notes: 

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

(2) Jean Verdier (1864-1940), Cardinal Archbishop of Paris 1929-40, had brought a request to Pius XI in February 1939 on behalf of the French Government.  See Paul Duclos SJ, Le Vatican et la seconde guerre mondiale. Action doctrinale et diplomatique en faveur de la paix, 1955, p104n4. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Quai_D%27Orsay_Paris.JPG

ADSS 1.46 Valeri to Maglione: meeting with Bonnet

ADSS 1.46 Valerio Valeri, France, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: Report number 8238 (AES 2607/39)

Location and date: Paris, 16.05.1939

Summary statement: Valeri reports on meeting with Georges Bonnet, French Foreign Minister: divided opinions in France over papal initiative; international situation; problems with French press.

Language: Italian

Text:

As mentioned to your Eminence in my report number 8209 of 11 May (1) I had abstained from calling again on M. Bonnet (2) to avoid comments of the Press.  Yesterday, however, I met him at a dinner given by the President of the Municipal Council (3) in honour of Cardinal Verdier. (4) I took the opportunity of expressing to him my surprise on seeing that the newspapers had given publicity to an initiative, which should be protected by diplomatic secrecy.  M. Bonnet replied that public opinion had been struck by the unexpected journey of the Berlin Nuncio to Berchtesgaden (5) and that, anyway, the first and real indiscretions had appeared in the Daily Mail of London.  He added: “I have spoken about this matter only with the President and at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, and I do not believe that the indiscretions appearing in the French Press originate form those sources.”

I think, instead, that, at least form a certain point of view M. Bonnet was mistaken because shortly before seeing him I had been visited by M. Paul Lesourd (6) of the Figaro who came to tell me in confidence that certain newspapers had received directives form the Quai d’Orsay to write against the Pope’s proposal.  However, according to M. Lucien Romier (7) of the same Figaro, and as your Excellency knows, the directives apparently came from M. Leger’s office and not from M. Bonnet. (8) But it is practically the same thing.

For this reason I pressed my point, mentioning to M. Bonnet that such Press campaigns, even when faintly sketched, could only turn to the detriment of the interests of the Holy See and of France and, what is more important, of peace.

It is true that there is a current of opinion not in favour of agreements, probably shared by some of the Minsters.  In fact, it has been reported to me that one of them, M. Campinchi (9), has been putting it about that Mussolini had suggested the Holy See’s proposal.  I do not know if this rumour, accepted as truth in certain circles, originated form the fact that a year ago, according to what was said to me the other day by M. de Chambrun, late Ambassador to Rome (10), the Italian Government had proposed to the French Government a Five Power conference.

As it is, it cannot be denied that the first and real indiscretions on the proposal, mentioning in detail a Conference between France, Great Britain, Poland, Germany and Italy, came from London.  It is strange, in fact, to note that a newspaper of that great city, affirmed that British statesmen were not obliged to keep the secret because the approach of an Apostolic Delegate cannot be considered to be at diplomatic level!  I am rather inclined to think that some Protestants would not like to see an increase of the Holy See’s prestige, which would certainly take place if the Holy see were able to guide Europe towards a new era of collaboration and peace.

 At the end of the short conversation M. Bonnet, who is a nice person, expressed again, with his regrets about what I had told him, his confidence and his hopes that the Holy See could at the proper moment and if the situation deteriorated, carry out its task of peacemaker successfully. (11)

Notes: 

(1) See ADSS 1.39.

(2) Georges Bonnet (1889-1957), French Foreign Minister 1938-39.

(3) Gaston le Provost de Launay (1874-1957), President of the Municipal Council 1938-July1939

(4) Jean Verdier (1864-1940), Archbishop of Paris 1929-40.

(5) See ADSS 1.29.

(6) Paul Lesourd (1897-1981), journalist with Figaro, wrote sympathetic articles about the Holy See.

(7) Lucien Romier (1885-1944), editor of Figaro 1925-27, 1934-42. Member of Vichy government 1942-43.  Died of a heart attack while being arrested by the Gestapo.

(8) Alexis Leger (1887-1975), Secretary General of the Foreign Office 1932-40.

(9) Cesar Campinchi (1882-1941), Minister of the Navy 1938-40.

(10) Charles Pineton de Chambrun (1875-1952), French Ambassador to Italy 1933-35.

(11) See ADSS 1.40, 42.