Appointment by President Roosevelt of Myron C. Taylor as the President’s personal representative to Pope Pius XII1
1. The sending of a special representative to the Vatican had evidently been considered by the President for some time. The letter of August 1, 1939, from Under Secretary of State Welles to President Roosevelt and the correspondence with Ambassador Phillips at Rome therein referred to appears to be the earliest record of consideration by the Department of State of such representation.
[841] The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
Washington, August 1, 1939.
121.866A/¼a
[842] Memorandum by President Roosevelt to the Secretary of State
[Washington,] October 2,
1939.
121.866A/Original
[843] President Roosevelt to Pope Pius XII
Washington, December 23, 1939.
740.00119 European War 1939/208
[844] The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips)
Washington, December 23, 1939.
121.866A/2a: Telegram
[846] The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
Rome, December 24,
1939—noon.
[Received December 24—10:05 a.m.]
[Received December 24—10:05 a.m.]
121.866A/1: Telegram
[847] The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
Rome, December 24, 1939.
[Received December 24—9 p.m.]
[Received December 24—9 p.m.]
121.866A/2: Telegram
- File copy dated December 23, 1939, but letter was not sent until February 4, 1940.↩