740.0011 European War 1939/30230: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland ( Harrison ) to the Secretary of State
Bern
, July 19,
1943—10 p.m.
[Received July 19—5:10 p.m.]
[Received July 19—5:10 p.m.]
4285. From Tittmann. No. 120, July 15. Department’s 1621, July 10 to Bern, and my 117, July 12.34
- (1)
- Department’s telegram with text of President’s message was received here during the afternoon July 13 and the text was delivered immediately to the Cardinal Secretary of State.
- (2)
- Monsignor Montini informed me on that day that the Vatican was very glad to have the official English text from me since the version they had received by telegram from the Apostolic Delegate in Washington was a translation of the message which furthermore had been garbled in transmission.
- (3)
- He would like to be able to report further on the reaction of the Holy See to the message after the Pope and his collaborators have been able to study the official English text. Meanwhile the dominant note in the Secretariat of State regarding the message is perhaps best expressed in Monsignor Montini’s words in reply to a question by the Polish Ambassador “the Vatican maintains its serenity”.
- (4)
- United Nations representatives here continue to be most enthusiastic. They point out that the Pope although he may be experiencing some uneasiness because of the implications in the first paragraph of the message cannot [but?] be gratified by the obvious intent of the President to show him regard and to strengthen the position of papacy at a critical moment. Some even see in the message a call to the Italian people to rally round the Pope as their spokesman. [Tittmann.]
Harrison