ADSS 1.104 Tardini notes: press report on possible truce project

ADSS 1.104 Domenico Tardini, notes

Reference: AES 5516/39

Location and date: Vatican, 19.08.1939

Summary statement: Osborne had received from UK Ambassador to Italy, press communication on the truce project transmitted to HS.

Language: Italian

Text:

I asked the British Minister where he got the information (of 14.08.1939) about a message that Italy and Germany were supposed to have conveyed to the Holy See regarding the Danzig question. (1) The Minister replied that he got it from the Embassy at the Quirinal (2) to whom it had been communicated by (the second) correspondent of the Times, the Minister telephoned in the evening (at 23.00) to H.E. Monsignor Montini and, having the latter assure him that here nothing was known of the document, the Minister was able to avoid its publication in the Times – already arranged for the next morning.  But the correspondent of The Times did not want to reveal where he had collected the news.  It seems it emanated form Italian Government circles.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.97 D’Arcy Osborne (1884-1964), UK Minister to Holy See 1936-47.

(2) Percy Lyham Loraine (1880-1961) UK Ambassador to Italy 1939-40.