ADSS 1.201 Papee to Maglione: Last Message from Poland

ADSS 1.201 Casimir Papeé, Polish Amb, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: AES 6464/39

Location and date: Rome, 14.09.1939

Summary statement: Polish gov’t reply to Pope’s peace message.  Message did not stop German invasion.

Language: French

Text:

The Holy Father’s message which His Eminence the Cardinal Secretary of State communicated on 31 August to His Excellency the Polish Ambassador – on the subject of the Holy Father’s unremitting and most impressive efforts to reach a just an peaceful resolution of Prusso-Polish differences – was the same day passed on to the Polish Government by the Polish Ambassador. (1)

Owing to the delays in communication, the Government’s reply only arrived this morning. (2)

The Polish Government expresses it profound regret that the Holy Father’s worthy message could not impede Germany’s brutal invasion of Polish territory on the following day.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.160

(2) Warsaw was under siege from 13.09.1939; the Government had left Warsaw for Lublin on 06.09.1939, then to Kremenez on 09.09.1939, and Zaleshiki near the Romanian border on 13.09.1939.