ADSS 1.280 Maglione notes: situation with L'Osservatore Romano

\ADSS 1.280 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, notes

Reference: AES 3215/40

Location and date: Vatican, 10.04.1940

Summary statement: Dino Alfieri, Italian ambassador, complains about the attitude of L’Osservatore Romano which is promoting peace.  Maglione defended the Holy See’s position and its freedom of expression.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Italian Ambassador, on behalf of Count Ciano, and therefor of Mussolini, tells me that in many parts of Italy demonstrations and speeches in favour of peace are held in the churches, probably on the Vatican’s instructions.

Such demonstrations, in these days in which political events develop with a tremendous speed and while the Government tries to prepare peoples’ minds to be ready for possible developments, appear to be a peace at any price attitude in contrast with Government policy, which follows the vents with vigilant concern.

L’Osservatore Romano, a much read Italian paper, follows a different policy from that of the Italian Press in general; it should be more moderate in its statements and less long-winded and more impartial in reporting war news.

To these statements, the substance of which I have just reported, I replied as follows:

Please inform Count Ciano:

1. that the Holy See has not given instructions to intensify the alleged demonstrations in favour of peace, either directly or through the Bishops;

2. that there is no need to suppose that instructions have been given to explain the prayers and the desire for peace and tranquillity for which the yearning of the people increases every day.  The desire for peace is very deep and widespread in Italy.  It is very natural, and it should have been foreseen, that this eager desire for peace should not be expressed in more frequent appeals and prayers for peace – now that everybody – none excepted – see the rapidly growing danger of war;

3. L’Osservatore Romano, although printed in Italian is an organ of the Holy See, and cannot be confused with the Italian newspapers.  If, at the present time, it expresses different opinions from those of the Italian papers as the Ambassador confirms it is not because the paper has changed its policy, but only because lately the Italian newspapers are trying to inflame public opinion.  I do not discuss this phenomenon: I leave the responsibility for this to the people who have decided on this policy.  But I must draw attention to the fact the L’Osservatore Romano cannot follow the other newspapers on the line of thought which has been imposed on them.

I have always advised L’Osservatore to be prudent, objective and moderate in its articles and in reporting the news.  I have no difficulty repeating this advice, as I do from time to time.

But it would be well to reflect for a moment on the fact that if it is a duty for L’Osservatore to follow its own policy this also is in in the interest of Italy:  L’Osservatore Romano will be recognised everywhere, and especially abroad, as the true, impartial, serene, independent organ of the Holy See: only under these conditions could it say, if necessary, a word of truth and justice in favour of Italy.

 

As he took his leave, the Ambassador wanted to assure me that Count Ciano will continue his action.

ADSS 1.279 Maglione to Giobbe: no news on a German invasion

ADSS 1.279 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Paolo Giobbe, Netherlands.

Reference: Telegram 17 (AES 3068/40)

Location and date: Vatican, 10.04.1940

Summary statement: Holy See has no information about an imminent invasion.

Language: Italian

Text:

Coded telegram 49 received (1).  No news here regarding imminent invasion of Holland, although future danger cannot be excluded (2).

Notes:

(1) ADSS 1.278.

(2) Germany invaded Denmark and Norway on 08-09.04.1940.  Denmark surrendered on 10.04.1940.

ADSS 1.278 Giobbe to Maglione: German attack imminent?

ADSS 1.278 Paolo Giobbe, Hague (1), to Luigi Malgione, Sec State

Reference: Telegram 26 (AES 3068/40)

Location and date: The Hague, 09.04.1940 (arrived Rome 10.04.1940)

Summary statement: Request for information about an imminent German attack against Holland.

Language: Italian

Text:

Events which have taken place lately, and news received, trouble this Government which, fearing imminent invasion by German troops has taken serious and urgent measures.  In the supposition that the Holy See is able to give some information about this supposed threat, this Government asks me to address myself to Your Eminence for advice.  Please telegraph reply (2).

Notes:

(1) Paolo Giobbe (1880-1972) Internuncio to the Netherlands 1935-58.

(2) Pasquale Diana (1890-1970) Italian Ambassador to The Hague, 1938-40, commented on 11.04.1940 of the unease of Dutch political circles in the wake of the German invasion of Norway on 08-09/04.1940.  DDI, Series 9, Volume 4, n47, pp33-34.

ADSS 1.274 Borgongini Duca to Maglione: Meeting with Ciano

ADSS 1.274 Francesco Borgongini Duca, Italy, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: Report 7679 (AES 2793/40)

Location and date: Rome, 31.03.1940

Summary statement: Reports meeting with Ciano who revealed that Muissolini had ‘committed himself excessively’; but Ciano continues to do everything possible to preserve neutrality.  Nuncio invited minister to act with prudence.  Ciano warns Nuncio not to trust information sent by the ambassadors to their gov’ts.

Language: Italian

Text:

Last Friday, 27 March, at 12.15, Minister Ciano, who had just come back from the palazzo Venezia, received me.

The purpose of my visit was to converse with him on the matters which Your Eminence had instructed me to settle (about ten arguments, more or less thorny, regarding which I had reported to you in the last few days) and also to take advantage of the occasion to obtain some information about political events.

The Minister, who always listens kindly to me (without ever taking his eyes from the pile of Notes which I am instructed to hand to him), told me when I thanked him, as Your Eminence told me to, for the information which he had sent to you through the Ambassador before the Brenner meeting (1), that: “Certainly it was a big commitment; but I am still doing everything to put a stop to it.  He (Mussolini) committed himself excessively. I cannot say if there will be war or not but ertainly I am working hard and you cannot have any idea of what I have done and am still doing.  But god helps me.

“When will you see the Holy Father?”  (I replied that I had already asked for an audience and hoped that His Holiness would consent to me soon.)  “Well, ask him to think about me from time to time and to pray for me and to send me his blessing because I need it very much”.

Then we started dealing with the business in hand, as I have already mentioned.

At the end, when we got up and were walking towards the door, I returned to the subject hoping to obtain a little more information.

He told me again that it is a great commitment.

I took courage and added: “Excellency, take good care of yourself and do not expose yourself too much”.

He replied: “You are right, I always go about without a bodyguard.  Certainly, the Germans would shoot me if they could” (2).

I insisted: “Be on guard not only against the Germans but also against the Italian people because among them there could be ill-intentioned people”.

He replied: “The Italian people love me and know that I am working for them”.

In the end he gave me a warning: “Do not trust the diplomats accredited to the Holy See who in their telegrams and reports give information about Italy as heard in the Vatican and also mention my name.  We read everything, and Mussolini also reads everything.  You must consider my position, otherwise I shall be obliged not to tell you anything more”.

I replied that we should not give too much credit to the statements of diplomats who want to make themselves look bigger by increasing the importance of the news they send, sometimes adding something of their own.

The conversation ended with these words: “What I told you is meant for the Holy Father and for His Excellency Cardinal Maglione”.

The Minister’s warning makes me fear that the Foreign Embassies have secret informers in the Vatican, besides those the Italian Government itself has.

Notes:

(1) ADSS 1.272.

(2) There were rumours among some German diplomatic circles that Ciano was an Anglophile. See DGFP, Series D, Volume 9, n179, pp197-98.

ADSS 1.273 Maglione to Pancini: Pope "saddened" by article in Glos Polski

ADSS 1.273 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Alfredo Pacini, Charge d’affaires Polish Nunciature in Angers, France.

Reference: AES 2476/40

Location and date: Vatican, 22.03.1940

Summary statement: Pope saddened by article in Glos Polski.  Pacini to make appropriate representations.

Language: Italian

Text:

I immediately brought to the Holy Father’s attention the article of the newspaper Glos Polski, which you sent us with your report Number 13/40 of 13 March 1940, regarding the visit of the German Minister for Foreign Affairs (1).

As you can easily imagine, this article was a painful surprise for the August Pontiff.  The author of the article in fact not only shows lack of understanding for the Holy See’s attitude in dealing with grace international problems, but also shows that he is unaware of forgetful of what His Holiness has done so far to help Poland, and his paternal, eager, incessant concern to bring moral and material assistance to Poland.

The Holy Father has been even more grieved by the fact that the article was published in the semi-official publication of the Polish Government in Angers.

I ask you therefore to lodge a complaint to the competent authorities asking for an explanation.

Notes:

(1) ADSS 1.262

ADSS 1.272 Maglione - notes on Italian situation

ADSS 1.272 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, notes

Reference: AES 2822/40

Location and date: Vatican, 20.03.1940

Summary statement: Dino Alfieri, Italian ambassador, reported on the meeting between Mussolini and Hitler; respective positions remain unchanged.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Italian Ambassador informs me that the conversation between Hitler and Mussolini at the Brenner Pass (the meeting was requested by Hitler and lasted two and a half hours) has not modified their respective points of view (1).

The conversation consisted mainly in a “tour of the political horizon”.  Hitler again mentioned the forthcoming offensive, and declared ghimself once again certain of victory.

The subject of peace was not mentioned (2).

Count Ciano remained under the impression that Hitler was less intransigent than usual.

Count Ciano himself asked the Ambassador to tell me that he remains firm in his well know policy. 

He must, naturally, act with prudence on account of the Duce’s temperament and personality.

But he is no more worried than before.

Notes:

(1) Dino Alfieri (1886-1966) Italian Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-40 wrote a report to Italian Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano, that evening giving an account of the meeting with Maglione.  His impression was that the Vatican was preoccupied by the event without exaggerating its importance.  See DDI, Series 9, Volume 3, n596, p522.

(2) See DDI, Series 9, Volume 3, nn503-07; DGFP, Series D, Volume 9, n1.  In these documents Hitler speaks about the war he intended to wage against the Western Powers, but he did not insist on Italy’s immediate entry into war.  Ciano wrote in his diary: “As far as we are concerned the meeting has not substantially changed our position”. Diario, Volume 1, p 239.