740.0011 EW 1939/34223: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
Washington, May 25,
1944—10 p.m.
1812. For Tittmann.
- (1)
- Competent military authorities report that question of designating Assisi as a “hospital city” is part of overall problem of safeguarding religious and cultural objects as well as civilian population of Italy. The appropriate theater commander is being furnished for his information and guidance with the information contained in your 152, April 26, which was relayed in Bern’s 2976, May 11.47
- You may inform Holy See in above sense.
- (2)
- For your secret information War Department also stated that a definite policy in this regard will ensue from deliberations now being held in matter of declaring Rome an “open city”. Therefore, it is [Page 1309] necessary that a definite reply regarding Vatican’s request concerning Assisi be withheld until a decision about Rome has been reached. You will be informed of decision.
Sent to Bern, repeated to Naples for Kirk.
Hull
- Not printed.↩