-4-                             
 
                                                            
 
 
that time. A careful report on the Irish situation resulted  
and was placed in your hands by me on my return. I believe  
this report had influence in determining our subsequent policy  
regarding Ireland. It is my belief that our very confidence  
and the support that we brought to the then Allies of Britain,  
in the face of the then existing grave doubts about Allied  
capacity successfully to resist, were so effective that doubt-  
ful minds in high places outside Germany withheld Axis support until   
           that  strength could be demonstrated.            
 
                                                            
 
 
Later in this year (1941) Japan attacked us at Pearl  
bor. The Axis Powers followed quickly and declared war upon 
 
                                                            
 
 
1942 saw us at war with the Axis Powers. During this  
year I came through neutral, and openly through enemy lines,  
to the Vatican though we were at war with Italy. I made clear to the Holy   
Father our position regarding our vast productive capacity, our national   
solidarity of purpose, our great natural and financial resources backed by   
the will of a great and strong people to wage relentless war until Fascism   
and Nazism were destroyed. I presented carefully prepared documents which I   
had caused to be assembled to His Holiness that were positive and forceful,   
     intending to reassure the Pope and to crystallize