ADSS 1.75 Cicognani to Maglione: resumption of peace initiatives in Washington

ADSS 1.75 Amleto Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate USA, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: Report 366/39 (AES 4632/39)

Location and date: Washington, 27.06.1939

Summary statement: Resumption of peace initiatives in Washington.

Language: Italian

Text:

I take the occasion of my visit to Rome to hand to your Eminence this documented Report, which I could not have safely sent by post, about the exchange of views on the endeavours made by the Holy See and by the President of the United States of America on behalf of the peace of the World, an exchange which has taken place through this Apostolic Delegation by means of coded telegrams.

On 14 April 1939 Monsignor Ready, Secretary General of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (1), gave me the message coming from Under Secretary of State, Welles (2), on behalf of the President of this Republic (3), who asked for the Holy Father’s support for the appeal for peace made by the President himself to Hitler and Mussolini; I passed this message to your Eminence with coded dispatch No. 267 of 15 April. (4)  I have the honour to enclose a copy of the Memorandum left with me by Monsignor Ready covering his conversation with Mr Welles (enclosed). (5)

As soon as I received your Eminence’s reply contained in the coded dispatch No. 135 of 18 April, I asked Monsignor Ready to communicate its contents to the President. (6) The Under Secretary of State replied to Monsignor Ready with the letter of 20 April which is also enclosed. (7)

In observance of the instructions given to me by your Eminence with the telegram of 10 May (8), I instructed the Reverend Howard J. Carroll, Vice-Secretary of the NCWC (9), who was in charge during the absence of Monsignor Ready, to communicate orally to Mr Welles the Holy See’s message, which I asked Fr. Carroll to read (enclosed) (10), but did not leave with him.  Mr Welles received Fr. Carroll on 16 May, and I have the honour to send to your Eminence the report of that interview (enclosed) (11).

Mr Welles expressed some reservations on the statement that the international European situation seemed to have become less tense; he evidently was referring to the request of territorial concessions made by the German and Italian Governments which had at that moment caused a crisis and which, although they had not in fact provoked an armed conflict still remained in their substance as an element and a constant threat in the European situation, and could finally lead to the dreaded conflict.  In addition, the reply given by Hitler and Mussolini to President Roosevelt’s message, and the comments, which have appeared in the press of the two Nations on this subject, could not fail to keep the Washington Government in a state of anxiety, which had motivated the said message.

My telegram No. 277 of 19 May (12), regarding the news coming from Rome that the Vatican had exchanged messages with the Washington Government on the international political situation was prompted by a request for information on the subject made by the Washington correspondent of the London Daily Mail to the News Service of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, and by an American newspaper to Count Fumasoni Biondi, Stefani News Agency Correspondent in Washington; following the denial given by both the State Department and this Apostolic Delegation, the news, as far as I know, was not published by the Press here.

Notes: 

(1) Michael Joseph Ready (1893-1957), Secretary of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (USA) 1931- 44

(2) Benjamin Sumner-Welles (1892-1962), Undersecretary of State 1937- 43

(3) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), President of the USA 1932- 45

(4) ADSS 1.10

(5) ADSS 1.9

(6) ADSS 1.13
(7) ADSS 1.14

(8) ADSS 1.38

(9) Howard Joseph Carroll (1902-1960), Assistant General Secretary of National Catholic Welfare Council, 1938-1944; General Secretary 1944-1957.

(10) ADSS 1.44

(11) ADSS 1.45

(12) ADSS 1.49

ADSS 1.74 Maglione to Valeri: please respond to peace suggestions from M. Russo

This is an unusual document in as much as it is an example of what the Vatican must have received on a daily basis - unsolicited, well-intentioned advice from all manner of people around the world. Documents such as this one also point to the strong belief held by many people that the Pope had significant power to influence the course of events in the months leading up to the outbreak of war.

ADSS 1.74 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Valerio Valeri, France.

Reference: AES 3987/39, draft

Location and date: Vatican, 27.06.1939

Summary statement: Italian journalist Domenico Russo had written to Maglione about the Pope’s peace plan.  Maglione asks that Russo et al direct their concerns to the Nuncio.

Language: Italian

Text:

M. Domenico Russo (1) from Neuilly-sur-Seine, (3 Rue Ancelle), has written a letter to me, dated 18 June, in which he tells me how much the effort of the Holy Father is making to save Christian Europe from the catastrophe of an armed conflagration are appreciated in France. He also mentions the “willing cooperation that the Holy See”, if desired, “could get from a group of first class personalities who have studied and discovered the solutions of the problems relating to the question which seems fundamental, that is the distribution of food stuffs and raw materials.”

He then informs me that M. Van Zeeland, former Belgian Prime Minister, and M. Paul Elbel, former French Minister of Commerce, would be ready to leave immediately for Vatican City if they were certain that they would be received. (2)

I beg your Excellency to let M. Domenico Russo know that, instead of coming here (which fact would be noticed immediately and give rise, one never knows to what strange insinuations) the above mentioned personages could with greater advantage hand to your Excellency the results of their investigations, their projects and conclusions.  Of course, your Excellency would keep the Holy See informed for opportune examination.

I ask your Excellency to send to Domenico Russo my affectionate greetings.  To your Excellency I send the expression of my sincere esteem.

Notes: 

(1) Domenico Russo (1876-1947), Italian born journalist, resident in France from 1903 and well-published anti-fascist.

(2) Paul van Zeeland (1893-1973), Belgian Prime Minister 1935-37, President of the Committee on Refugees based in London from 1939. Paul Elbel (1875-1940), French parliamentary deputy 1933-40 with special interest in trade and commerce.

ADSS 1.73 Martin Stanislaw Gillet OP to Pope Pius XII: discussion in Paris

ADSS 1.73 Martin Stanislaw Gillet OP, Master General of the Dominicans (1), to Pope Pius XII

Reference: AES 4329/39, handwritten letter.

Location and date: Paris, 26.06.1939

Summary statement: Gillet had discussion with French Foreign Minister (2) who appreciated the Pope’s steps on behalf of peace, but thinks the moment not opportune.  A new Munich is not possible unless the old frontiers are restored to Czechoslovakia.  The Pope could with advantage persuade Hitler and Mussolini that a new violation of treaties would lead to way and he could also call the attention of the peoples to the Church’s doctrine on international morality.

Language: French

Text:

Holy Father,

As your Holiness has authorised me [sic] I report to you as faithfully as possible the long conversation I had this morning with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the subject of peace and of the initiatives which Your Holiness could be called upon to take for its preservation.

The Minister told me that he was very pleased, as is the French Government, about the first step which you thought necessary to take with the principal European Heads of State of behalf of peace.  He acknowledged that no other person in the world has greater moral authority. But he thought that at the time Your Holiness took the generous initiative the European political situation was not so critical nor peace in such a great danger to justify the various Governments agreeing on consulting each other through diplomatic channels.

Our Minister though that if during the next month a new tension should arise, similar to the one last year, the Holy See would be the only moral authority to which one could appeal to avert war.

But he did not think a new Munich was possible, as the Munich Treaty signed by the four great Powers has been broken, without even an advance notice, by one of them.  By seizing Czechoslovakia and taking away for force its national independence Germany has broken the Munich pact, and broken the confidence of the other Powers who signed it.

To make a second Munich possible, Czechoslovakia would first have to regain its independence, as guaranteed by the Munich Treaty.

Now nobody believes Germany would really consent to this act of justice which would re-establish confidence.

For this reason neither France nor Great Britain, our Minister told me, can accept in the present circumstances the idea of another conference similar to that of Munich.

On the contrary he thinks that it is necessary that the Führer should know that any threat to the independence or to the rights of any nation, big or small, would fatally unleash war, and only this conviction can put a temporary brake to the Lebensraum, which is in fact, to desire war.

Otherwise if the “peace front” gives the Führer, in one form or another, the impression that people want to avoid war at all costs and all would, for the second time, accept le fait accompli, then war would be inevitable.

According to the Minister it would be desirable that Berlin knew what is in the minds of France and Great Britain on this point.

The only certain thing is that the peoples do not want war and, on this account, the totalitarian governments, who call themselves popular governments, should do their utmost to renounce recourse to violence in international relations.

No person in the world, repeated the Minister, has any authority comparable to that of the Supreme Pontiff to address the people and to call them back to the peace doctrine of the Church.  It is firmly believed that an Encyclical of Your Holiness or, if one had to wait too long (?) a speech in which the Church’s doctrine would be explained on all the points where it is in danger – on the one hand on the dignity and liberty of the human being, on the other on the political and social heresies that endanger them – it is believed, as I say, that an Encyclical letter of a speech of this type would have a considerable effect.  They would find a deep response in people’s minds, in all nations that have only confidence in the Church and its Head to bring all peoples together and to compel those who govern them, and who pretend to base themselves on them, to renounce violence. (3)

It is also believed that after the manifestation of such a doctrine which would relieve minds, comfort hearts and appease oppressed consciences, Your Holiness would be chosen by all, at the moment of new diplomatic tension, to approach the Governments and to call on them in the name of God to listen to the pleas of their people and to get together for re-establishing peace.

I apologise, Holy Father, for having taken up so much your time and attention.  But I thought it my duty, as a humble son of the Church, to submit to its Head, whom I revere and love much more than myself, to report as faithfully as possible my conversation with the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has the greatest admiration for Your Holiness and for the magnificent way in which you understand and accomplish your high mission.

Notes: 

(1) Martin Stanislaw Gillet OP (1875-1951), Master General of the Dominicans 1929-46.

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

(3) Pius XII issued his first encyclical Summi Pontificatus, on 20.10.1939.

Martin Stanislaw Gillet OP

ADSS 1.72 Maglione to Valeri: Holy See and International Diplomatic Academy

Volume and Document Number: ADSS 1.72 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Valerio Valeri, France.

Reference: AES 3754/39, draft

Location and date: Vatican, 24.06.1939

Summary statement: The Holy See cannot participate in initiatives of the International Diplomatic Academy.

Language: Italian

Text:

I have duly received the careful report of your Excellency, Number 8415.179, of 10 June, regarding the proposal of an international diplomatic meeting. (1)

I thank your Excellency for having diligently reported what M. de la Barra and M. Frangulis have expressed regarding the initiative they wish to take to protect peace.

This can certainly prove to be an excellent initiative: but as you have already so well explained to the two gentlemen, the Holy See must preserve its moral independence, in order to be able to exert5 with some hop of success, in an atmosphere so troubled by political passions, its providential conciliatory action amongst nations.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.60

ADSS 1.71 Maglione to Borgongini: information sent to Warsaw

ADSS 1.71 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Francesco Borgongini Duca, Italy

Reference: AES 3819/39 - draft

Location and date: Vatican, 23.07.1939

Summary statement: Information sent to Warsaw.

Language: Italian

Text:

I have received your report 6967 of 14 June 1939 (1): in which you relate the conversation with the Foreign Minister (2) on the evening of 13 June, on very important subjects, of great interest in the present political situation.

While I think you for this accurate information, which I immediately brought to the Holy Father, I wish to inform you, with reference to the desired persuasive action of the Holy See in respect of Poland, I have immediately sent a telegram, dated 16 June, to the Apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw. (3)

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.62

(2) Galeazzo Ciano (1903-44), Italian Foreign Minister 1936-43.

(3) ADSS op cit.