THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE   
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
                  TO HIS HOLINESS THE POPE                  
 
                 Rome, Italy, July 17, 1944                 
 
                   My dear Mr. President:                   
 
                                                            
 
 
I have the honor to submit herewith an account of my audience with His   
Holiness, Pope Pius XII, which took place at the Vatican on July 12,   
                           1944.                            
 
                                                            
 
 
In my previous audiences (two at which discussions occurred, the third   
accompanied by Secretary Stimson, which was formal in character and   
presented not questions for serious discussion) attention was directed to   
                  the following questions:                  
 
                                                            
 
 
The possiblitly of the spread of communism in Europe and a very real   
danger of its development in a strong way in Italy, especially in the   
       period of political and social reconstruction.       
 
                                                            
 
 
The hope was expressed that Allied Armies would not leave Italy for along   
period of time to come.  That their presence would have a stabilizing   
infulence upon the people and the politicians.  I expressed the opinion   
that in Italy as in all liberated countries I believed it to be the policy   
of the American Government to lend its assistance until such times as, in   
             accord with the principles of the              
 
                     To His Excellency                      
 
                 Franklin Delano Roosevelt                  
 
         President of the United States of America          
 
                        Washington.