740.0011 European War 1939/28342

Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Atherton) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

Mr. Welles: We are inclined to believe that the reasons for this most recent communication from the Vatican to the British Government [Page 916] with respect to the bombardment of Rome are those given in the note itself, that is, various statements of a “threatening” nature, both official and unofficial, which have come out of the British Isles on this question. Mr. Tittmann believes that there have been no additional “threats” from the British since last December. However, on January 20 Mr. Eden21 stated in the House of Commons: “I agree with the Prime Minister that we have as much right to bomb Rome as the Italians had to bomb London. We shall not hesitate to do so to the best of our ability and as heavily as possible if the course of the war should render such bombing convenient and helpful.” Furthermore, digests of British public opinion during recent weeks have shown a continuing interest in the possible bombardment of Rome with the sentiment of the people preponderantly in favor of bombing.

So far as is known there have been no official expressions of opinion in this country on the question one way or another and very little independent comment in the press or radio. This would tend to explain why it was not felt necessary to address a communication to us similar to that sent the British.

We do not know whether, in his recent discussions with the Pope, Archbishop Spellman may have given some indications of a reassuring nature to the Pope concerning the bombardment of Rome. It is only natural that this should occur to the British Minister when he and not Tittmann received the recent warning.

R[ay] A[therton]
  1. Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.