ADSS 1.268 Maglione, notes: Sumner Welles in Rome

 ADSS 1.268 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, notes.

Reference: AES 2494/40

Location and date: Vatican, 18.03.1940

Summary statement: Sumner Welles in Rome.  Meeting at Vatican – Allies want a sound peace; imminent offensive expected; Papal peace initiative likely to fail; Italian neutrality.

Language: Italian

Text:

Mr Sumner Welles, United States Foreign Under Secretary, came to see me after the audience granted to him by the Holy Father (1)

He expressed his satisfaction, indeed his joy, at having been able to confer with His Holiness.

He spoke then about the talks he had had in Italy, Germany, Britain and France with Government people. In Berlin he was able to note that Hitler and his Government are convinced that the Allies (France and Britain) want the destruction of Germany (2) while he knows – and he was able to see this clearly in London and in Paris – that the allies want to reach a sound peace with a lasting settlement of all matters and want to be sure than other war will not start in twenty years’ time.

He asked me then if I thought that the Germans, although they declared themselves certain of an overwhelming victory within a year, have not manifested some intention of talking peace.  Mussolini confirmed that the Germans are preparing a vigorous offensive within the next few days of weeks.  The fact that this is impossible to avoid is heart rending.  He asked me what I thought about a new attempt in favour of peace.

I replied that at the present time neither of the two parties in conflict believe in the possibility of, nor are they willing to help in the success of any such attempt: both declare they are certain of complete victory and will fight: both energetically refuse any proposal of peace.,  Any effort in this direction would, in the present circumstances, be doomed to failure and would compromise any future move which could be resumed at a more opportune moment.

Mr Welles told me that he agreed with me fully and added that he had already telephoned the President accordingly.

He then asked my opinion about the Italian situation and said that he thought that during the meeting between Hitler and Mussolini fixed for this morning at the Brenner Pass the relations between Italy and Russia would be discussed to see if there was any possibility of improving them as Hitler desired.

I replied that the Italian people are against the war but Mussolini’s mind is not clear.  He leans towards Germany but there is hope that he would take the nation’s mood into account and in consequence restrain himself, being a realist, from throwing Italy into an adventure in which it could run mortal risks.

The Allies, who would gain by Italian non-belligerency, should do their utmost not to antagonise Mussolini, etc.

In the margin: It should be noted that Italian and German interests in the Balkans are opposed to a Russian thrust in the Balkans.

Welles told me that those were exactly his own thoughts.  Although until a short while ago relations between the United States and Italy were not very cordial, President Roosevelt has already suggested that the Allies be cautious and friendly towards Italy, and try not to upset them with measures and policies which are unacceptable.  Recently, regarding the coal question, he said “In Washington we took the same line as followed by Your Eminence here”. (Welles knew that I had approached the French Ambassador and the British Minister on this subject) (3).

I did not fail to remind Welles that the Unites States can do a lot and that all here have great confidence in President Roosevelt’s good offices.

Welles told me very courteously, but with obvious sincerity, that the United States in turn have great confidence in the influence of the most high and august moral power which the Pope can have in the present circumstances and that the President will be most pleased to unite his efforts to those of the Holy Father.

Notes:

(1) FRUS 1940 Volume 1, pp 106-08 for Sumner Welles report.  The audience began at 10.00 and lasted 50 minutes.  The conversation he later had with Maglione in French, is also reported in FRUS, pp 108-10.

(2) FRUS 1940 Volume 1, p49 for Sumner Welles meeting with Hitler.

(3) ADSS 1.250

ADSS 1.265 Pius XII to President Roosevelt: Pius is encouraged by the presence of Myron Taylor.

ADSS 1.265 Pius XII to President Roosevelt

Reference: AES America 259; FRUS 1940 Volume 1, pp 127-28; Wartime Corresspondence (1947), pp 33-34.

Location and date: Vatican, 16.03.1940

Summary statement: Pope encouraged by the presence of FDR’s representative.  Endeavours for peace.

Language: English

Text:

The text is readily found in the online edition of Wartime Correspondence at https://archive.org/stream/wartimecorrespon006860mbp/wartimecorrespon006860mbp_djvu.txt

ADSS 1.231 Tardini notes: Ciano's explanation of Salzburg; the Royal Visit to the Vatican

ADSS 1.231 Domenico Tardini, notes

Reference: AES St Eccl 611.

Location and date: Vatican, 21.12.1939

Summary statement: Ciano’s attempts to mediate peace in Salzburg.  Press reports of the King and Queen’s visit to the Vatican.

Language: Italian

Text:

The Honourable M. Ciano accompanied the King to the Holy Father’s audience.  In the Holy Father’s antechamber he said: “I went to Salzburg to say: “peace, peace.  But they answered: war, war.”  In this way I was able to preserve peace for Italy but I was unable to preserve peace for Europe.” (1)

In His Eminence’s antechamber M. Ciano told me (with reference to yesterday’s harsh article in the Messaggero against L’Osservatore Romano), “I read it in the Messaggero.  The Head of the Government does not know these questions of protocol.” (2)

Notes:

(1) This statement agrees with the minutes of the meeting of 12.08.1939 in Salzburg. DDI Series 8, Volume 13, n1, pp1-3.

(2) Messaggero 20.12.1939 published a small article on the front page titled “L’osservatore’s style” against  L’Osservatore Romano which had described in a modest manner, according to Messaggero’s opinion, the visit of the King and Queen to the Vatican.

ADSS 1.265 Pius XII to FDR

ADSS 1.265 Pius XII to President Roosevelt

Reference: AES America 259; FRUS 1940 Volume 1, pp 127-28; Wartime Corresspondence (1947), pp 33-34.

Location and date: Vatican, 16.03.1940

Summary statement: Pope encouraged by the presence of FDR’s representative.  Endeavours for peace.

Language: English

Text:

The text is readily found in the online edition of Wartime Correspondence.

Notes: 

ADSS 1.224 Pius XII to Dino Alfieri: relations between Holy See and Italy

VADSS 1.224 Pius XII to Dino Alfieri, Italian Ambassador to the Holy See

Reference: ASS, XXXI (1939), 704-06.

Location and date: 07.12.1939

Summary statement: Allusion to the Lateran Treaty.  Gratitude for the good relations between the Holy See and Italy. Expresses the hope that Italy will stay out of the war.

Language: Italian

Text:

The solemn presentation of the Credentials, with which His Majesty the King Emperor accredits Your Excellency to Us as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1), following many illustrious personages in this high mission, whose eminent qualities and fruitful activity will always be gratefully remembered here, takes place at a historical moment of singular importance, the various aspects of which have just been eloquently pointed out by Your Excellency.

Above all other considerations, We must recall that this year the tenth anniversary of the conclusion of the Lateran Treaty takes place, which, in the conscience of the Italian people, symbolises and brought the providential peace anxiously awaited through many long years of grievous dissension, which confused the souls and shackled the energy of many of the best sons of this glorious and privileged Italian nation, while in the conscience of the Catholic world the same Treaty meant the new, solemn and open acknowledgement of the read and actual sovereignty and independence of the Supreme Head of the Church.

Therefore Our soul receives with gratitude the vow, or rather the joyful certainty, expressed by Your Excellency, that the relations of cordial and confident understanding between Church and State in Italy, founded on the Lateran accord of peace, will continue to be carried out in a spirit of faithful observance, and We, for our part, shall give to these high intentions of your August Sovereign and of his Government all that benevolent support that the nobility of such aim and its beneficial effect for the peaceful growth and prosperity of the Italian people deserve.

In this present difficult hour, when the Rulers of States, in the sphere of their internal and external activity, are confronted by tasks which impose extraordinary burdens on their energies for decision and action, when the fulfilment of such high duties of government, thorough the weight of the exceptional sacrifices bound indissolubly to them, makes the complete trust and the loyal consent of the masses of people more than ever necessary, the latter, now aw always, being made up of those who carry the cross along the via dolorosa which mankind has to tread again; in these circumstances as We repat, the harmony between the two Powers and the internal peace, which is a fruit springing from it, are the best remedy to lighten the difficulties and at the same time the finest gift that the State can make to itself and to its citizens.

At this moment, when Your Excellency starts his distinguished mission, the work of the Apostolic See in favour of peace and understanding amongst nations also appears not only necessary and urgent but also difficult and full of thorns.  Difficult above all because the fundamental concept of justice and love, which fosters not only the happiness of the individual, but also the nobility and the growth of social relations, through a wrong process of thought and action which makes the divine human, and the human divine, has fallen, in many respects, into oblivious and contempt.  This distorted development, amounting to subversion of the principles of justice and moral duties, has tended and designed to substitute the Christian concept of life, community and State with disruptive and destructive doctrines which believe that the progress of civilisation and of mankind consists in freedom from the bounds of natural law and of divine revelation, whose resplendent light shines on the world form this sacred city of Rome.

Each one of these errors, as generally every error, lasts for a certain time, during which it increases and decreases; it is at one moment at its height and then suddenly falls apart.  There are two phases: the first when the intoxicating poison of the alluring doctrines overwhelms and infatuates the masses and makes them fall into its power, and the other, when the bitter fruits become ripe and the eyes of the masses, or at least of the wiser and more thoughtful of them, look at them terrified, remembering how deceptive were the plans and the promises with which they were drawn into error.  How many eyes, once closed, are no opening again!

But We are specially comforted by the understanding that Your Excellency has nobly expressed regarding the fundamental thought of Our recent Encyclical Letter for the peaceful and brotherly union of mankind and for peace in justice, and We are led to hope that Our further endeavours for such a high aim will always find response in the courageous, strong and industrious Italian people who by the wisdom of their rulers and their inner impulse have, up to now, been saved from the danger of being drawn into war, and have thus been placed in the best position to co-operate for the coming and establishment of true peace, founded on justice and humanity.

While from the bottom of Our heart We implore the Omnipotent One to assist Italy and its Rulers with His light and with His protection, We impart with all Our soul on His Majesty the King Emperor and on the Royal Family, on His Excellency the head of Government, on the entire Italian people so near and dear to Us, and in particular on Your Excellency Our Apostolic Benediction.

Notes: 

(1) Eduardo Dino Alfieri (1886-1966), Italian Ambassador to the Holy See 07.12.1939 to 31.05.1940. He succeeded Bonifacio Pignatti (1877-1957), ambassador 1935-39.