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.

ADSS 1.172 Papee to Maglione: Germany has invaded Poland

ADSS 1.172 Casimir Papee, Polish Ambassador to the Holy See, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: AES 6073/39

Location and date: Rome, 01.09.1939

Summary statement: Germany has attacked Poland

Language: French

Text:

Although Poland in agreement with Britain and France has taken part in the British initiative to safeguard the Peace by negotiations, the armies on German soil have penetrated Polish territory, while squadrons of German planes have carried out bombardment of several localities. (1)

Note of Cardinal Maglione (2)

At 13.30hrs on 1 September, the Polish Ambassador made the above official verbal communication to me adding that at 11.00hrs he had been informed by his colleague from Paris that last night [sic] the Germans had started air raids, bombing Gdynia and all the big Polish cities: Warsaw, Krakow, Bielsk, etc., except Vilna.  He assured me that the frontier crossings and aggressions attributed to Polish soldiers are non-existent.

Notes: 

(1) Germany launched its invasion of Poland at 04.45hrs.  Warsaw was bombed at 09.00hrs.  The extent of the invasion became clearer as the hours passed. 

(2) Maglione’s note was written at the bottom of Papee’s note along with his signature.

ADSS 1.159 Tardini notes: last peace message from Pius XII

ADSS 1.159 Domenico Tardini, notes.

Reference: AES 5935/39

Location and date: Vatican, 31.08.1939

Summary statement: Maglione handed to Osbone (UK), Diego von Bergen (Germany), Casimir Papée (Poland), Francois Charles-Roux (France), Bonafacio Pignatti (Italy), José de Yanguas Messia (Spain), Francesco Borgoncini Duca for the USA Ambassador, William Phillips, and Niko Sorgo (Yugoslavia) a last peace message from the Pope.

Language: Italian

Text:

From 13.20hrs to 13.45hrs the Most Eminent Cardinal Secretary of State personally handed to the Ambassadors of Germany, Poland, France, Italy and to the Minister of Great Britain the text of the pontifical message (here attached) (1) with the request to send it urgently to their Governments.  All the diplomats received this message with obvious satisfaction. (2)

The Most Eminent Cardinal also handed a copy to the Italian Nuncio (3) for communication to the Ambassador of the United States to the Quirinal (4) with the request to transmit it to President Roosevelt so that he could bring his good offices into play.

The Most Eminent Cardinal has handed another copy to the Spanish Ambassador (5) requesting him to send it urgently to Generalissimo Franco and to beg him in the name of the Holy Father to support the initiative.

As the Minister of Yugoslavia (6) was also present, the Most Eminent Cardinal informed him as well about the pontifical initiative. 

The idea of the last message of the Pope dated 31 August – urgent appeal to peace on the eve or war – cam from the Most Eminent Cardinal Secretary of State.  He – worried by the gravity of the news – returned to Rome be car and thought of sending a new short message.  As soon as he arrived in Rome about 12.00hrs, he came into my office, dictated the short communiqué, which His Holiness approved with only small modifications.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.160

(2) Diego von Bergen (1872-1944) German Ambassador to the Holy See 1920-43; Casimir Papee (1889-1979) Polish Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-58; Francois Charles-Roux (1879-1961) French Ambassador to the Holy See 1932-40; Bonafacio Pignatti (1877-1957), Italian Ambassador to the Holy See 1935-39, D’Arcy Osborne (1884-1964), British Minister to the Holy See 1936-47.

(3) Francesco Borgongini Duca (1884-1954), Nuncio to Italy 1929-53.

(4) William Phillips (1878-1968) USA Ambassador to Italy 1936-41.

(5) José Yanguas Messia (1890-1974) Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See 1938-42.

(6) Niko Sorgo (1884-1966), Yugoslav Ambassador to the Holy See 1937-45.

ADSS 1.131 Tardini notes: conversations with Spanish and Polish ministers

ADSS 1.131 Domenico Tardini, notes.

Reference: AES 6818/39

Location and date: Vatican, 26.08.1939

Summary statement: Spain is unhappy with the German-Soviet pact and enthusiastic about the Pope’s peace message.  Poland denied news of general mobilisation; added that the Pope’s message had been well received and expressed the hope that the Pope would make a formal condemnation in the case of aggression.

Language: Italian

Text:

12.00 The Spanish Ambassador calls. (1) He says that in Spain the Russian-German agreement has made a bad impression.  The Spaniards know through their own experience what communism means.  They thought they had dealt a heavy blow to Communism by defeating it in Spain. Now, instead, they see all Powers kneeling before Stalin and are surprised to see the very person who had helped Spain against Communism coming to terms with it.  He speaks with enthusiasm about the pontifical message.

12.30 The Polish Ambassador calls. (2) He has no news from his Government.  He knows only that a general mobilisation has not yet taken place, contrary to the news given by the German Press.  He feels that the tone of the Italian Press is less harsh.  He does not harbour any illusion about Hitler’s proposals, now mentioned.  He states that the pontifical message has been very well received in Poland; the nation is threatened by violence from a stronger one and heartily approves the clear and solemn reaffirmation of principles made by His Holiness.  He expressed (rather timidly_ the hope that, in the case of an aggression against Poland, the Holy See would declare on which side justice and moral principles rest.

Notes: 

(1) Jose Yanguas Messia de Santa Clara de Avedillo (1890-1974), Spanish Ambassdor to the Holy See 1938-42.

(2) Casimir Papee (1889-1979), Polish Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-58.

ADSS 1.116 Tardini, notes: meetings with ambassadors

ADSS 1.116 Domenico Tardini, notes

Reference: AES 5561/39

Location and date: Vatican, 24.08.1939

Summary statement: Ambassadors and Ministers of France, UK, Italy, Poland and Yugoslavia called.

Language: Italian

Text:

09.45 The French Ambassador calls (1).  He thinks the situation very grave.  Today or tomorrow – according to his opinion – Hitler will attack Poland.  He would like the Pope to censure the aggression against a Catholic country.

10.30 The British Minister calls (2).  He brings a summary of the letter that Chamberlain had set to Hitler yesterday. (3) He tells me that the British Ambassador to the Quirinal was more worried yesterday that today.

11.30 The Secretary of the Italian Embassy calls. (4) He tells me that the Russian-German treaty deprives Italy of the possibility of intervening to stop Hitler.  Hitler is now safe from the East.  He cannot think how war could be avoided.

12.15 The Polish Ambassador calls (5), affirming that Poland has never hoped to be helped by Russia.  Poland will resist violence and fight the aggressor.  He would like the Holy Father to condemn the aggression.

13.00 The Yugoslav Minister calls (6).  He has no news.  He would like to be kept informed.

Notes: 

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

(2) D’Arcy Osborne (1884-1964), UK Minister to the Holy See, 1936-47.

(3) ADSS 1.115, n1.

(4) Raimondo Giustiniani (1899-1976), Secretary of the Italian Embassy to the Holy See.

(5) Casimir Papée (1889-1979), Polish Ambassador to the Holy See, 1939-58.

(6) Niko Mirosevic Sorgo (1884-1966), Yugoslav Ambassador to the Holy See, 1937-45.