740.0011 European War 1939/28342: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

1510. From Tittmann. No. 39, March 1. Reference to my telegram No. 11, January 12. The Cardinal Secretary of State, under [Page 915] date of February 28, has sent me officially a copy of a note of the same date which he has addressed to the British Minister to the Holy See regarding the question of possible bombing of Rome. In his covering communication to me Cardinal states that he believes it “opportune” to bring the note to my attention. The text of the note, which is too long to telegraph in full will be forwarded in the next pouch.19 In summary it explains that owing to British statements of a threatening nature, both official and unofficial, the Secretariat of State feels duty-bound once again to insist upon the very serious grounds for sparing Rome from bombardment. It points out that the city is the center of Catholicism with all the machinery for the spiritual government of the Catholic world and the Episcopal See of the Supreme Pontiff and that it contains many religious and cultural movements [monuments] which are held in particular veneration not only by Catholics but also by the entire Christian world. It observes that the Vatican City itself would have little chance of escaping damage in a bombardment no matter what precautions might be taken to avoid it.

The note then recalls the assurances given by the Italian Government to the Holy See with regard to military objectives in Rome and in conclusion warns that if Rome should be bombed the Holy See would be forced to make a public protest to the Catholic world.

Since the same ground was covered by the Holy See in a previous communication to the British Government last December and since it does not appear that there have been any additional threats since then Osborne is at a loss to account for this fresh appeal and warning since my telegram. In his report to London he is suggesting that it may be just possible that Archbishop Spellman20 brought with him from the United States assurances that Rome would not be bombed by the Americans and that the Vatican consequently feels that this would be an occasion to attempt to reinsure itself in London.

I myself know of no such assurances. The Archbishop did not raise the question in the course of a conversation and I said nothing to him about it. [Tittmann.]

Harrison
  1. Despatch No. 159, March 3, 1943, not printed.
  2. Francis J. Spellman, Archbishop of New York.