740.00119 European War
1939/1596
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State
(Welles)
[Washington,] August 10,
1943.
Memorandum of Conversation
Subject: Request of Papal Nuncio to commence
negotiations for Italy’s exit from the war.
[Page 577]
| Participants: |
The Greek Ambassador, Mr. Cimon P.
Diamantopoulos, The Under Secretary, Mr. Welles. |
The Greek Ambassador called to see me this afternoon at his request.
By instruction of his Government the Ambassador handed me the
memorandum attached herewith and asked what the opinion of this
Government might be with regard to the initiative undertaken by the
Papal Nuncio in Bern.1 I said to the Ambassador that it seemed to me
that the reply was a very simple one, namely, that in as much as the
United Nations had announced that the only terms for peace with
Italy were unconditional surrender, there was no possibility of the
negotiations urged by the Papal Nuncio, and that if any neutral
nations endeavored to intercede in the manner suggested a reply in
that sense would necessarily be made to them. The Ambassador said he
fully understood and was completely in accord.
[Attachment]
The Greek Ambassador (Diamantopoulos) to the Secretary of State
confidential
No. 1889
Washington, August 9,
1948.
Memorandum
The Ambassador of Greece presents his compliments to His
Excellency the Secretary of State and has the honor to transmit
herewith, for the consideration of the State Department, a
translation of a telegram addressed by the Greek Legation at
Berne to the Prime Minister of Greece2 at Cairo:
“The Papal Nuncio returned from Rome a few days ago and
told me that although the Holy See does not wish to
involve the Swiss Government in Italian affairs and that
he had no instructions on the matter, he believes,
nevertheless, that the neutral nations should intercede
and exert efforts to commence negotiations for Italy’s
exit from the war, and he expressed the hope that they
would wish to secure for her an honorable peace.
“The Nuncio requested me to help him in this matter and
to exchange views concerning it with my Government. He
assured me that as he was in a position to know Italy
has definitely abandoned her fantastic
[Page 578]
claims on Greek
territories and that he perceived that the people of
Italy desire not only reconciliation but also close
cooperation with us. I replied that I do not know the
views of my Government and had no instructions on the
point, but that in my personal opinion not only was
reconciliation and cooperation impossible, but even
simple friendly relations, before there is a
satisfactory solution for Greece of the questions of the
Dodecanese Islands and Northern Epirus, which have for a
long time divided the two countries. He assured me that
he was absolutely in accord. Please let me have your
advice on the matter.”
