tentatively reached in respect to these several problems; but it greatly   
impresses the Holy See that serious consideration is already being given   
to these and other vital questions. The Cardinal, in reply to an inquiry,   
confirmed the statement of the Pope that particular study was not being   
made in the Vatican of these problems, but that many of them are the   
         subject of current thought and discussion.         
 
                                                            
 
 
I inquired of the Cardinal if he had developed any thoughts in respect to   
the reconstitution of political, territorial, or economic position of the   
various European states in the post war period, reminding him, as an   
example,of the plans which were put forth by Briand and others relative to   
a Feration of European Sates.  He replied that it would be very difficult   
to envisage the political, territorial, and economic position of the   
European States i the post wae period and that, with a great variety of   
languages, plotical traditions, and the hatreds engendered by war, as well   
as those which have for long previous periods existed, make very difficult   
   the organization of such states in a cooperative way.    
 
                                                            
 
 
I sketched on a broad line the relationship between Russia on one side and   
Germany on the other, and whether both could not be benefited if the   
intervening areas were brought together in such fashion as to prevent a   
recurrence of war among themselves and as an insulation against a   
recurrence of war between Germany and Russia.  He replied emphaticlly that  
if that could be accpmlished, it would be a very great help to Europe and   
world peace.  These discussions aroused serious thoughts in his mind and   
his inerest became obviously more aroused as we progressed.  I asked what,   
                      in his opinion,                       
 
                           should