750G.00/6–1754

No. 210
The Chief United States Negotiator in London (Thompson) to the Counselor of Embassy in Italy (Durbrow)
top secret

Dear Durby: Many thanks for your suggestion that we might try bringing some pressure on the Italians through the Vatican.1 For the moment my judgment is that this would be unwise, but I will follow up your suggestion with the British in regard to the Bishop in Trieste. I am very much afraid that there would be many people in Vatican circles who would not consider a rapprochement between Italy and Yugoslavia to be in the best interests of the Church unless there were some concrete resolution of the Church’s problems, which now appears to be out of the question. Our prospects look good and I am inclined to believe we should not take the chance of stirring up what may be a risky side current unless we get into a desperate situation.

We saw the McBaines and had some news of you from Jane. I hope to return to Vienna for the Fourth, but will only be there for a few days.

I was most grateful for your message and that of the Ambassador. Our best to Edith and to the boys.

Sincerely,

Llewellyn E. Thompson
  1. In a letter of June 10 to Thompson, Durbrow suggested that Thompson might want to consider attempting to enlist the support of the Vatican in an effort to influence the Italian Government regarding Trieste. Durbrow said that he assumed it would be a comparatively easy matter for the British, if they agreed, to make the approach through their mission to the Holy See. He also suggested that Thompson ask the British to see if the Vatican could use its influence to insure that the Bishop of Trieste and Capodistria, Bishop Santin, “behaves himself in connection with any settlement which might be mutually agreed upon.” (750G.00/6–1054)