701.5666A/2
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
The Minister of the Netherlands called to see me this morning. The Minister informed me of the reply he had had from his Government with regard to the suggestion which I had made in our previous interview that the Netherlands undertake diplomatic relations with the Vatican. The Minister said that his Foreign Minister38 had informed him that about a year ago the Netherlands Government had, of its own initiative, suggested to the Vatican the desirability of diplomatic relations and that at that time the Vatican had refused on some nominal pretext, apparently operating under the influence of the Italian Government. For these reasons the Netherlands Government is not willing to take any initiative in the matter at this time because of its belief that it cannot do so in view of this recent refusal on the part of the Vatican. Dr. van Kleffens stated, however, that if the United States Government ascertained informally that the Vatican [Page 789] would acquiesce in such a suggestion, the Netherlands Government would then be very glad to make a formal and official approach. I told the Minister that I should be very glad to take this matter up informally and find out what the reaction of the Vatican would be. I added that it had been my clear understanding that the Vatican would gladly accept a suggestion to this effect from the Netherlands Government.39
- Eelco Nicolaas van Kleffens.↩
- Arrangements for establishing diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Netherlands Government were finally completed in August 1943, but because of the entry of German troops into Rome at about this time the appointment of a Netherlands Minister to the Vatican did not occur until June 1944.↩