PAP                                     PARIS
This telegram must be
closely paraphrased be-                      Dated May 14, 1940
fore being communicated 
to anyone.  (D)                              Rec'd 6:55 p.m.
 
Secretary of State
 
     Washington
 
     RUSH
 
     659, May 14, 7 p.m. (SECTION FOUR)
 
     I have been requested by numerous members of the French Government to ask you to use
all the influence you have to persuade the Pope to make such a declaration.  It is pointed out that
his telegrams to the sovereigns of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg were in the nature of
political acts whereas what is needed is a declaration on the Ecclesiastical and spiritual plane
which centuries ago would have taken the form of excommunication of Hitler and Germany.
     Two.  Several members of the French Government and the Argentine Ambassador have
suggested to me that if all the countries of Latin America should join in denouncing the invasion
of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, and if this denunciation should be fully supported by
you the effect in Italy would be important.
 
                         BULLITT
 
WWC