740.0011 European War 1939/29643

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

The Apostolic Delegate called to see me this afternoon at his request. The Delegate handed me the memorandum attached herewith which has to do with the possible bombing of the city of Rome. The Delegate added that the views of the Holy See with regard to this question were already so thoroughly known that he did not feel it necessary to say anything further with reference to this communication.

S[umner] W[elles]
[Annex]

Memorandum

In view of the discussion in the House of Commons last week in which it was stated on behalf of the Government that the Allies would not hesitate to bomb the city of Rome if that became necessary or useful for the conduct of the war, His Eminence, the Cardinal Secretary of State, has directed the Apostolic Delegate in Washington to inform the Government of the United States that the Holy See reaffirms its often expressed attitude regarding such sad eventuality. The Holy See ardently hopes that such bombardment will not occur, and repeats that the Holy Father would be constrained to express vehement protest against such action.

The Holy See has already manifested the grave reasons for which Rome should be saved from the horrors of aerial attack, and for its part has urged and obtained the removal of Axis military objectives from the Eternal City.

In presenting this matter again to the Department of State, the Apostolic Delegate begs to recall the specific remarks of his memorandum of December 4, 1942,22 which was submitted to the Honorable Mr. Berle, Assistant Secretary of State.

  1. Not printed.