COPY TRANSLATION                      
                   Lyon, January 9, 1941                    
 
                                                            
 
 
                    My dear Ambassador:                     
     It was with great regret that I learned from the newspapers that you   
had to undergo another surgical operation.  I hope, with all my heart, that  
you will find complete recovery this time, and I pray to God that He sustain   
you in these distressing times of illness.  Everyone at the Vatican will  
certainly have regretted to hear of your further suffering. 
 
                                                            
 
 
Since six weeks I have been in France after having been sacrificed, as   
you probably know, by Mr. Laval on the altar of the so-called Franco-German  
"Collaboraton."  This collaboration has only brought worse treatment, if   
possible, to my unfortunate country by the pitiles occupants.  I am glad,   
however, to be again among my compatriots and to suffer with them; glad also  
to learn that they think the same as I.  As there is no more any means of  
writing or speaking openly in France what one thinks it may be that from afar  
you have the impression that the French people are resigned to their fate and  
that there are even many who wish for an accord with the Nazi.  If, by chance,  
you should have this impression I can assure you that it does not correspond  
    to the real condition.  It is exactly the contrary.