Impressed very forcefully by the increasingly numerous and insistent   
appeals directed to Him from all quarters for news of close relatives and   
intimate friends in the United States of America, His Holiness is desirous   
that, if at all possible, the information service of the Holy See, which   
is carried on in the interest of prisoners, refugees and civilians alike,   
now be extended to the United States. In expressing this desire, His  
Holiness is deeply encouraged by the knowledge that this activity  
has already provided for countless thousands in many parts of the  
world a measure of tranquility and peace of mind and by the  
assurance that the inestimable benefits of this merciful enterprise  
       might easily be extended to the United States.       
 
                                                            
 
 
To this end, therefore, His Holiness would request that His Excellency the   
President of the United States seek to facilitate the arrangements   
      necessary for the establishment of this service.      
 
                                                            
 
 
A very large number of requests for such information from the United   
States have already been received; that the number has not been multiplied   
many times is due solely to the fact that, unfortunately, the Holy See has   
been obliged, to let it be known that, temporarily at least, it cannot   
                   accept such reauests.                    
 
                                                            
 
 
In the case of those few requests of an urgent nature, which have been   
forwarded to the United States on the recommendation  
Ecclesiastical Authorities, the obstacles and difficulties t