740.0011 European War 1939/33075: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
499. For Tittmann. AFHQ5 has made the following reply through the American Mission at Algiers to your telegram number 21 of January 21 (Department’s 383, February 5, 7 p.m.):6
“The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces have made and will continue to make every effort to conduct their military operations without violating Vatican property or installations. However it has been repeatedly pointed out that we cannot afford to prejudice the success of our operations by imposing tactical restrictions on the attack of targets on road nets and within areas employed extensively by the enemy. Instructions have been passed forward concerning markings of Vatican vehicles with instructions that they will be respected whenever possible. However it is considered quite unlikely that fighter or bomber pilots involved in the attack of enemy transport on roads will be able to recognize the markings of an individual vehicle. It is suggested that the above points be communicated to the Vatican through the American representative at that state.”
You may transmit as much of the above reply to the Secretariat of State as you deem appropriate.