DEPARTMENT OF STATE  
                     INCOMING TELEGRAM                      
 
                          AMT-1888                          
 
                                                            
 
 
This telegram must be   
closely paraphrased before   
               being communicated to anyone.                
 
                        Vatican City                        
 
                  Dated December 12, 1944                   
 
                   Rec'd 2:35 p.m., 13th                    
 
                    Secretary of State,                     
 
                           Washington.                      
 
                  400, December 12, 6 p.m.                  
 
                FOR PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY                 
 
                                                            
 
 
At legnthy audience with His Holiness Pope Pius Twelfth this   
morning we discussed the general distmper in various countries wholly or   
partially released from Axis domination. It had been indicated by an   
informant that the Communist movement in Italy as in Greece was growing   
strength, that Greece was a test ground, that a quantity of arms and   
munitions was being brought into Italy from Yugoslavia at the port of Bari   
by Communist adherents, that development of Communist strength in Italy   
was said to be increasing. At the moment, there appears to be no activity   
from German quarters looking towards end of hostilities. Though the   
ultimate defeat is conceded, it had been indicated from several informants   
           that German strength was still great.            
 
                                                            
 
 
His Holiness discussed with me the fifth anniversary of the   
       President's comminication to him and to me in        
 
                          respect