ADSS 1.214 Francis Spellman (New York) to Luigi Maglione,
Sec State
Reference:
AES 9451
Location
and date: New York, 25.10.1939
Summary
statement: President Roosevelt and Spellman had discussed possibility of a US
representative at the Holy See.
Suggested Myron Taylor or Breckinridge Long.
Language:
Italian
Text:
From
time to time during the last two years President Roosevelt has invited me to
talk about various things, amongst which was the possibility of establishing diplomatic
relations with the Holy See.
The
President has always appeared well disposed towards doing everything possible
to accomplish this project, and it seemed that the only difficulty was that of
obtaining the support for this decision from the majority of the members of the
Congress of the United States. Although
it is true that, according to the American constitutional procedure, the
President can recognise a Government, Congress must approve the assignment of
the necessary funds for the upkeep of a mission.
The
first practical step towards the establishment of the proposed relations was
taken on the occasion of the coronation of the Holy Father, Pius XII, when the
President appointed Mr Joseph P Kennedy, United States Ambassador in Great
Britain, as his Extraordinary Envoy for that propitious occasion (1).
Following
along these lines, the President invited me to Washington yesterday, 24
October, and re-opened the discussion on this most important subject. I place more than the usual importance on the
fact that the President called me just at a time when he is so very busy. But it transpired that the invitation was
full of significance not only because of the particular time but more
especially for the way the conversation was carried on: so cordial, unaffected,
sincere and explicit.
My
appointment with the President was for luncheon at one o’clock and I took this
opportunity of being in Washington to pay my respectful regards to His
Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, Mons Cicognani (2). I spent the night of 23 October in the
Apostolic Delegation as a guest of His Excellency.
The
President and I lunched alone. The first
thing the President inquired about was the health of the Holy Father. I replied that, according to the news
received by me, the Holy Father was in very good health although very saddened
by the present world condition and fatigued because of his many important
pre-occupations and by various heavy anxieties.
This information pleased the President and I took advantage of this conversation
concerning the Holy Father to say the His Holiness had decided to speak on the
radio at the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the
Catholic University. (3)
The
fact is that the Rector of the Catholic University (4) had invited the
President to participate in the celebration, and was disappointed because the
President had not agreed. As soon as the
Rector knew that the President did not feel able to take part in this solemn
celebration, he came to see me and ask me to beg the President to reconsider
his decision, and to speak on the same programme with the Holy Father.
Although
I do not like to assume duties other than those with which I am entrusted in
consequence of my office, I consented to speak to the President. He replied to my request willingly and
sincerely that he would be very please to speak, and I communicated this to His
Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, and to the Rector of the Catholic
University before leaving Washington for New York.
Then,
the President began to talk about the subject of establishing relations with
the Holy See. He repeated what he had already said to me, namely, that he was
looking for a moment and occasion suitable for a persuasive appeal to the
American people. I replied that I agreed
with him, and that is seemed to me that the present time and the existing
circumstances were favourable and propitious.
I added that the theme could be the possibility of the Catholic Church’s
co-operating with the United States in their common and similar aims, plans and
wishes for world peace.
I
said that the Holy Father’s speeches as Head of the Universal Church have the
same theme and the same tone as the statements that he himself, the President,
had made as head of the greatest democracy in the world. I said to the President that I was conscious
of the fact that he would be criticised by some ill disposed citizens, but that
I did not think that at this time too much weight should be placed in what such
people had to say. I said that this
would be an association of great moral forces for the good of mankind. Continuing the conversation, the President
said with a smile. “I think that every
moment brings us nearer to the conclusion of this matter’. This gave me courage, and we continued the
conversation as if the matter were already decided, and only the mode of
procedure was to be discussed.
The
President thought that if it proved possible to obtain the revision of the
Neutrality Act, already being considered by Congress, and which should be
completed during the month of November, then Congress would adjourn and would
not be in Session again until 3 January [1940]. (5) He pointed out that during
that period efforts could be made to appoint a special mission the Holy See,
explaining as motive of his action his belief that such an association would be
of great help to the peace of the world, as in effect it is. The President also said that the mission
could look after the problem of the refugees from all nations as well.
For
the time being the relationship would consist of a mission of the United States
Government to Rome accredited to the Holy See, without its being necessary that
the mission of the Holy See in Washington should be recognised as an Apostolic
Nunciature. To supply funds for a
special mission an Act of Congress is not required, but once the mission has
been launched, if everything goes well, Congress could be induced more easily
to vote the funds for a permanent mission.
We
discussed the mission staff. The
President said that as head of the mission he had Mr Myron C Taylor in mind, a
very distinguished American (6). Mr
Taylor is already very interested in the problem of refugees. The President also mentioned the name of Mr
Breckenbridge [sic] Long (7), who not
long ago was the Ambassador of the United States Government in Italy. Neither of these two gentlemen is Catholic;
both are persons of great experience and culture. I do not remember if My Taylor has any
experience in the diplomatic service, but Mr Long is experienced and learned. One of the other would, in my opinion, be
suitable. The Holy Father already knows
Mr Taylor, having met him and also honoured him by visiting him at his home in
New York. (8)
I
said to the President that I was always ready to return to Washington to
discuss this matter, but when he finally decided to act, the best procedure
would be officially to advise His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate.
As
I had the definite impression of considerable progress, I felt it my duty to
report the details of the conversation to His Excellency the Apostolic
Delegate, and I send this report to Your Eminence through the hands of His
Excellency. I add also that I asked for
the President’s permission to present a report to the Holy See and he readily
agreed adding that he wanted to send his sincere and affectionate regards to
the Hoy Father, and to say that if a mission to the Holy See is arranged, as he
sincerely hopes, one of the most important elements that would make it
acceptable and accepted by the American people would be the wee-remembered,
appreciated, historical and fruitful visit of the Holy Father to the United
States when he was Cardinal Secretary of State.
Notes:
(1)
Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888-1969), USA Ambassador to Britain 1938-40.
(2)
Amleto Cicognani (1883-1973), Apostolic Delegate to the United States, 1933-59.
(3)
13.11.1939 Pius XII addressed a message to American Catholics on the occasion
of the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the Catholic University of America in
Washington DC.
(4)
Joseph Corrigan (1879-1942), rector of the Catholic University of America
1936-42. Corrigan had presented a “loyal
address” to the President on 03.08.1939 when, possibly, the invitation to
attend the Jubilee Celebrations was made.
(5)
FDR addressed a message to Congress on 21.09.1939 asking for a revision of the
Neutrality and Sale of Armaments Act.
The first Neutrality Act was passed in 1935 with revisions made in 1936
and 1937. The 1939 Act was passed by
Congress on 04.11.1939. It repealed the
previous Acts and allowed for a “cash and carry” provision with France and
Britain. The Neutrality Act was
superseded by the Lend Lease Act of March 1941.
(6)
Myron Charles Taylor (1863-1959), an industrialist with a special concern for
refugees, he had represented the USA at the 1939 Evian Conference. He was appointed the President’s Personal
Representative to the Holy See on 22.12.1939.
(7)
Samuel Miller Breckinridge Long (1881-1958), USA Ambassador to Italy 1933-36.
In September 1939 FDR appointed him special assistant Secretary of State, a
position he held until January 1940 when he was named Assistant Secretary of
State. He held a “hard line” on granting
refugees visas for the USA and was criticised during the war years.
(8)
I have not been able to verify this statement.
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