740.00114 European War 1939/4194

The Assistant Secretary of State (Long) to the Apostolic Delegate at Washington (Cicognani)

My Dear Archbishop Cicognani: I refer to Secretary Hull’s letter of August 2676 and previous correspondence concerning the functioning of the Vatican Information Service in North Africa and Sicily, and the opening of channels of correspondence between bishops of Sicily and the Holy See.

We have now received the decision of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff with respect to these questions, and am happy to inform you that they have re-considered their decision of May 30, 1943. They have consequently revised to a certain extent the conditions affecting [Page 961] the functioning of the Vatican Information Service in North Africa which were communicated to you in June last. The Service may now extend its activities to Italian prisoners of war in the hands of American authorities. General Eisenhower has been informed that he is authorized to furnish the Vatican Information Service with rosters of prisoners of war on a delayed basis, and to permit the transmission of welfare messages for Italian prisoners of war and persons of equivalent status in American custody.

With respect to the methods of communication between the Vatican Information Service and Vatican City, and the bishops in Sicily and the Holy See, they are considered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be an administrative matter which, subject to the exigencies of war, must be determined by the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean theater. The Department has been informed that General Eisenhower concurs that postal and telegraphic communication may be maintained between the Holy See and the Cardinal Archbishop in Sicily via Algiers. Direct radio communication, however, cannot be permitted at this time. Family news service and messages from prisoners of war under the auspices of the Vatican Information Service are now being addressed by the Archbishop of Palermo to the Holy See via Algiers. Details of the methods of communication which are permitted by the Commander-in-Chief, and which may vary from time to time with the developments of the campaign in Italy, can be worked out in North Africa and Sicily between the representatives of the Holy See and representatives of General Eisenhower.

Yours very sincerely,

Breckinridge Long
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