ADSS 1.181 Cortesi to Maglione: War has started

ADSS 1.181 Filippo Cortesi, Poland, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: Telegram number 38, (AES 6054/39)

Location and date: Warsaw, received Rome 03.09.1939.

Summary statement: Min For Aff, Joseph Beck wanted to publish Nuncio’s communication.  Cortesi declined.  War has started; plans to remain in the capital.

Language: Italian

Text:

Minister Foreign Affairs (1) called me and made brusque request … he wanted to publish communication made by me according to coded message 46 (2), expressing his disappointment.  I answered that confidential nature … evident the confirming attitude (?) and reason already explained … and he made different suggestions adding Holy See knows that last night Hitler replying to British mediation said Poland unleashed war.

With Holy Father’s approval I plan to remain in Warsaw spending the night in religious house (outside) town.

Postal communication interrupted, I shall avoid sending delicate (?) news about war, which Your Eminence can obtain, from other sources.

Notes: 

(1) Jozef Beck (1894-1944), Polish Foreign Minister 1932-39.

(2) Given verbally in an interview on 01.9.1939. See ADSS 1.170.