740.0011 European War 1939/31032
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
The Apostolic Delegate called to see me this morning at his request in order to discuss the two communications from him which I received last night, copies of which are attached herewith.56
I told the Delegate that the memorandum from the Holy See which contained the expression of the Vatican’s opinion with regard to the undesirability of continued bombing by the United Nations of Italian [Page 947] territory had been immediately communicated by myself to the President for his information.
I stated that with regard to the other communication from the Delegate in which a further request was made for some reply to the communication from the Vatican regarding the declaration by the Italian Government that Rome was an open city, I could merely state that the matter was still under immediate consideration by the highest authorities of this Government and that as soon as a reply could be given the Delegate would, of course, be informed.
The Delegate spoke at considerable length about the present state of mind of the Italian people and of his fear that their traditional friendship and sympathy for the American people might be prejudiced if attacks from the air upon Italian cities were continued. I told him that of course the answer to this question lay within the power of the Italian Government and that the terms offered the Italian Government were unconditional surrender which involved an honorable capitulation. As soon as the Italian Government found its way or as soon as the Italian people were able to persuade the Italian Government to find the way to the acceptance of these terms, the conditions to which the Archbishop referred would of course cease. Archbishop Cicognani said that of course he realized this and that he believed there was a unanimous desire on the part of the Italian people for immediate peace and that he had interpreted the radio address of the King of Italy yesterday as implying that the Italian Government was now ready to accept the terms offered. He concluded by saying that both the Holy Father and he himself were available at any time if they could be of any service in the present tragic situation.
- The two documents dated August 20, supra.↩