740.00114 European War 1939/3136: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Algiers (Wiley)

372. For Murphy.63 There follow the pertinent portions of telegram no. 28, February 16, from Tittmann64 at the Vatican which was repeated to the Department by Bern as its 1159, February 19, 1 p.m.

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“I understand from Monsignor Montini65 that Mr. Myron Taylor and Archbishop Spellman66 have been asked by Holy See to support if possible and expedite its proposal to organize with the assistance of the White Fathers a welfare information service for prisoners of war and civilians in French North Africa similar to services which the Holy See has established elsewhere. According to the proposal Holy See would nominate as its correspondent in French North Africa a White Father of Maison Carrée to be designated by the superior general of the society. The correspondent thus selected would organize the service in a manner similar to that already in operation elsewhere by the other representatives of the Holy See and arrange for the compilation of the messages in conformity with the requirements of the local military authorities. Such messages would be duly submitted for censorship and would be forwarded to the Vatican by the fastest route.

Messages from the Vatican would be transmitted in the same way and would be subject to the same conditions of censorship.

I would like to submit the following considerations in favor of acceptance by us of this or a similar proposal.

(1)
It would be good propaganda. In thus manifesting our good will to cooperate with the Vatican in a charitable work that is particularly dear to the Holy Father himself we would enhance our reputation especially in Catholic countries for humane dealing.
(2)
It would mean reciprocation of services rendered here on behalf of American prisoners of war and internees. The information office seems to be doing a good job in this respect and I understand that in many instances the first news of American prisoners of war in Italian hands received by their families came through Vatican channels.
(3)
It would clear up any doubts that may exist at the Vatican regarding the attitude of the Red Cross. Whether well founded or not the conviction is prevalent in Vatican circles that the difficulties encountered so far by the information office in establishing channels in certain areas for the exchange of welfare information must be laid to fear of competition on the part of the Red Cross. In fact it has been persuaded that the time may come when the Holy Father will be obliged to explain openly to anxious families that he is unable to obtain the information desired owing to the attitude of the Red Cross toward his charity.

The Holy See of course has my note suggesting that the subject be taken up with International Red Cross Committee the text of which was transmitted with Department’s telegram No. 405, February 10, 1942, to Bern.67 I am not certain what efforts if any were made in accordance with this suggestion but apparently the International Committee is unable to furnish the information office with duplicates of their lists.”

The Department’s telegram no. 405 of February 10 to Bern transmitted with background comment the text of a note to be presented [Page 955] by Tittmann at the Vatican stating that the American Government had established in accordance with Article 77 of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention68 in the Office of the Provost Marshal General, United States War Department, a Prisoners of War Information Bureau, with a section for civilian internees, which exchanges information with corresponding bureaus in enemy countries through the Protecting Powers and through the central information agency for prisoners of war established by the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva in accordance with Article 79 of the Convention. The Department suggested in this note and in its accompanying comment upon it that the Vatican should not attempt to duplicate the activity undertaken officially under the Convention by the Protecting Powers and the International Committee of the Red Cross but should endeavor to supplement this activity particularly with reference to civilians and refugees in belligerent territories who do not come directly within the scope of the information bureau activities provided for in the Geneva Convention. It was further suggested that the Vatican discuss with the International Red Cross Committee the possibility of cooperation by the Vatican and Red Cross Committees’ information bureaus. The American Minister in Bern69 and Tittmann were requested to support any discussions that might be initiated looking toward the organization of such cooperation.

The Department is inclined to the view that the lists of prisoners of war and civilians in an analogous status held by the American authorities in North Africa should continue to be transmitted by these authorities to the Prisoners of War Information Bureau in our War Department and forwarded as provided in the Geneva Convention through the International Red Cross Committee Information Bureau at Geneva and the Protecting Powers to the information bureaus in the appropriate enemy countries, but it perceives no objection to the extension to North Africa of the Vatican information service primarily with a view to the exchange of information regarding persons not in the hands of the American authorities. In view, however, of the matters of high policy involved the Department desires, before coming to a decision with regard to this question, to receive the opinion of the appropriate military authorities in North Africa and requests that you bring this matter to the personal attention of Generals Eisenhower70 and Giraud71 and ascertain their opinions with regard to it. Please forward the substance of these opinions to the Department by telegraph with your comment.

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Pending receipt of your reply, the Department has instructed Tittmann to inform the Vatican that this matter is receiving careful consideration and that a reply will be sent to him as soon as the responsible agencies have been consulted.

Welles
  1. Robert D. Murphy, U.S. Political Adviser on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater; Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in North Africa.
  2. Harold H. Tittmann, Assistant to Myron C. Taylor, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt to Pope Pius XII.
  3. Giovanni Battista Montini, Papal Under Secretary of State.
  4. Francis J. Spellman, Archbishop of New York.
  5. Not printed.
  6. Signed July 27, 1929, Foreign Relations, 1929, Vol. i, pp. 336, 354.
  7. Leland Harrison.
  8. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander in Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force in North Africa.
  9. Gen. Henri Giraud, High Commissioner in French North Africa.