740.00119 European War 1939/1596
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of
State (Welles)
[Washington,] August 10, 1943.
The Greek Ambassador61 called to see me this afternoon at his
request. By instruction of his Government the Ambassador handed
[Page 349]
me the memorandum attached
herewith and asked what the opinion of this Government might be with
regard to the initiative undertaken by the Papal Nuncio in Bern. I said
to the Ambassador that it seemed to me that the reply was a very simple
one, namely, that in as much as the United Nations had announced that
the only terms for peace with Italy were unconditional surrender, there
was no possibility of the negotiations urged by the Papal Nuncio, and
that if any neutral nations endeavored to intercede in the manner
suggested a reply in that sense would necessarily be made to them. The
Ambassador said he fully understood and was completely in accord.
[Annex]
The Greek Ambassador (Diamantopoulos) to the Secretary of State
No. 1889
Washington, August 9,
1943.
Memorandum
The Ambassador of Greece presents his compliments to His Excellency
the Secretary of State and has the honor to transmit herewith, for
the consideration of the State Department, a translation of a
telegram addressed by the Greek Legation at Berne to the Prime
Minister of Greece at Cairo:
“The Papal Nuncio returned from Rome a few days ago and told
me that although the Holy See does not wish to involve the
Swiss Government in Italian affairs and that he had no
instructions on the matter, he believes, nevertheless, that
the neutral nations should intercede and exert efforts to
commence negotiations for Italy’s exit from the war, and he
expressed the hope that they would wish to secure for her an
honorable peace.
“The Nuncio requested me to help him in this matter and to
exchange views concerning it with my Government. He assured
me that as he was in a position to know Italy has definitely
abandoned her fantastic claims on Greek territories and that
he perceived that the people of Italy desire not only
reconciliation but also close cooperation with us. I replied
that I do not know the views of my Government and had no
instructions on the point, but that in my personal opinion
not only was reconciliation and cooperation impossible, but
even simple friendly relations, before there is a
satisfactory solution for Greece of the questions of the
Dodecanese Islands and Northern Epirus, which have for a
long time divided the two countries. He assured me that he
was absolutely in accord. Please let me have your advice on
the matter.”
