ADSS 1.168 Tardini notes: Germany is ready for war

ADSS 1.168 Domenico Tardini, notes.

Reference: AES 6833/39

Location and date: Vatican, 31.08.1939

Summary statement: France Ambassador believes the Italian gov’t has decided to go to war.  Romanian Ambassador says German General Staff are in favour of war after the German-Soviet pact.

Language: Italian

Text:

The French Ambassador (1) assures me that, according to news in his possession, the Italian Government has by now decided to enter the war on the German side.  The Rumanian Ambassador (2) informs me that, since the Russian-German Pact, the German General Staff are in favour of going to war, while before they were against it.  He, however, cannot positively guarantee this news, which was given to him as certain.

Notes:  

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

(2) Nicholas Petrusco Comnene (1881-1958), Rumanian Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-40.

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.