should be the future of Austria; to which he responded that if Austira   
were to be restored to is pre-World War II position, it would be   
economically undesirable, as, from the time of the Versailles Treaty down   
to the present war, it was so contituted as to be economically weak.    
In response to further questioning he admitted that to restore Austria to   
its pre-Versailles condition might be desirable as reducing the strenght   
of Germany, but would involve readjustment of territory of its neighbors.    
He was quite uncertain whether this could be accomplished but would be   
pendent upon the conditions which confront the post- war pea
 
                                                            
 
 
I inquired of his thoughts in regard to France and its future.  That seemed   
to give him paue.  He indicated that the position of France was very   
           difficult and would be found to be so.           
 
                                                            
 
 
For some time past it has appeared to me that we were not well informed as   
to the postion of the Holy See with respect to peacepropsals, or the extent  
of the possible participation of the Holy See in the post-war peace   
conferncence; and, by a series of questions I undertook to explore the   
mind of the Cardinal on these points. it developed into a very interesting   
conversation which required considerable time.  The substance of this   
exchange of questions and answers might be stated as follows:  
It has been the traditional function of the Holy See, when requested to do   
so, to act as intermediary by the passing of information regarding the   
desire, or even some of the basic proposals for peace, from one   
            belligerent government to another,              
 
                           while