701.6266A/6–845: Telegram

Mr. Myron C. Taylor, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt to Pope Pius XII, to the Secretary of State

144. ReDepts 63, May 23 and my 131 May 31.2 1. Montini3 told Tittmann4 and Osborne5 yesterday that German diplomats, who are guests of Holy See, would not be invited to leave Vatican City unless Allies could give assurances that they would be treated with all respect due them as former diplomats accredited to Holy See. He explained that diplomats desired to leave Vatican City for repatriation and that Vatican would like to have them go, but we should help by paving the way for their departure by giving some sort of assurances along above lines.

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2. Montini suggested same treatment for the seven German prisoners of war now taking refuge in Vatican City. He mentioned, for instance, that we might give assurances they would not be punished or made to undergo undue hardships in concentration camps. In the audience of May 23 (my 120, May 236) I indicated to His Holiness that if diplomats and German prisoners in the Vatican were guilty of war crimes they would be punished. If not guilty they had nothing to fear. The Pope concurred in this statement.

3. It is obvious that prestige of Holy See is involved.

4. We should be glad to have Dept’s instructions on foregoing, bearing in mind custom between nations and international law if applicable.7

Taylor
  1. Neither printed; telegram 131 reported an audience with the Pope regarding the disposition of the German archives at Vatican City (800.414/5–3145).
  2. Giovanni Batista Montini, Papal Under Secretary of State.
  3. Harold H. Tittmann, Assistant to Mr. Myron C. Taylor.
  4. Francis Osborne, British Minister to the Holy See.
  5. Not printed.
  6. Discussions with Vatican officials regarding repatriation of German diplomats and other Germans having refuge in Vatican City were carried on from late April through the rest of the year with no agreement being reached. The issue involved was that of assurances regarding treatment of these Germans when they should leave and come under Allied control.