740.00119 European War 1939/1596

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

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.

S[umner] W[elles]
[Attachment]

The Greek Ambassador (Diamantopoulos) to the Secretary of State

confidential
No. 1889

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.”

  1. Filippo Bernardini.
  2. Emmanuel J. Tsouderos.