Office of the Historian

389. Background Paper Prepared in the Bureau of European Affairs0

October 31, 1958.

[Here follows background information on unrelated topics.]

U.S. RELATIONS WITH THE VATICAN

Discussion of Possible Future Diplomatic Relations with the Vatican

There are many arguments in favor of recognition of the Vatican and the sending of a diplomatic representative. Valuable sources of information would be made available to us, as well as the opportunity of utilizing through persuasion the considerable political resource and influence of the Vatican in support of American foreign policy objectives. However, it is uniformly agreed that recognition of the Vatican is not entirely a foreign policy question, but one which involves internal American politics. The public reaction to General Clark’s appointment indicates the nature of the problem.1 The Department has not been informed of any authoritative assessment by domestic political sources which would indicate the time is now propitious to raise such a question either publicly in the U.S. or privately with the Vatican as a serious proposal.

In any consideration of the establishment of American diplomatic relations with the Vatican contemplated, it should be borne in mind that so far as the late Pope Pius XII was concerned, a further personal representative as a substitute for formal diplomatic recognition was unacceptable. It has likewise been unacceptable to the Vatican to use the American Ambassador to the Italian Republic as official channel to the Vatican. The official Vatican attitude regarding the reception of an American representative must naturally await definition by the new Pope. According to information received by Mr. Murphy in September 1958 from Monsignor Tanner, Chairman of the National Catholic Welfare Council, the American Roman Catholic Bishops prefer to see matters remain as they now stand.2

  1. Source: Department of State, Italian Desk Files: Lot 68 D 436, Vatican–POL 7 Visits. Secret. Drafted for Murphy’s use during his visit to Italy to attend the Papal coronation.↩
  2. Regarding President Truman’s nomination of Clark as Ambassador to the Vatican, see Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. IV, Part 1, pp. 1002–1004.↩
  3. See Document 385.↩