121.866A/2a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips)

164. The President is making public Sunday, December 24, the following Christmas letter to the Pope:

[Here follows text of letter printed supra.]

For your information similar letters were sent to the President of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America6 and to Rabbi Cyrus Adler, as a recognized leader of the Jewish faith, except that instead of appointing a representative, these men were asked to confer from time to time with the President in Washington.

The President will likewise announce that he has appointed Mr. Myron C. Taylor as his representative at the Vatican to take up questions arising out of the abnormal situation. The President contemplates that this representation will be for the duration of the war and to handle problems arising out of it. Mr. Taylor advises that because of his health, he will be unable to sail for some weeks, probably in February. It is planned that he will have merely the title of “Representative of the President”, with the rank of Ambassador but without title. Unless problems require his continuous attendance in Rome, it is assumed that he will be able to spend most of his time at his villa in Florence, maintaining continuous office arrangements in Rome and coming there when needed.

Hull
  1. George A. Buttrick.