{Sept. 3, 1941}                      
 
                       Your Holiness:                       
 
                                                            
 
 
At my request, Mr. Myron Taylor will discuss with Your Holiness certain   
matters with regard to which I am very desirous that he eplain my feelings   
and American opinion.  These are matters in regard to which I feel very   
                         strongly.                          
 
                                                            
 
 
The first of these relates to the problem of the attitude of the Russian   
Government and the Russian people toward Religion.  In so far as I am   
informed, churches in Russia are open.  I believe that ther is a real   
possibility that Russia may as a result of the present conflict recognize   
freedom of religion on Russia, although, of course, without recognition of   
any official intervention on the part of any church in education  or   
political matters within Russia.  I feel that if this can be accomplished   
it will put the possibility of hte restoration of real religious liberty   
in Russia on a much better footing than religious freedom is in Germany   
                           today.                           
 
                                                            
 
 
There are in the United States many people in all churches who have the   
feeling that Russia is governed completely by a communistic form of society.  
In my opinion, the fact is that Russia is governed by a dictatorship as   
rigid in its   
                                                            
 
                           manner                           
 
                        His Holiness                        
 
                        Pope Pius XII                       
 
                        Vatican City.