DEPARTMENT OF STATE                     
 
                     INCOMING TELEGRAM                      
 
           DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS           
 
                           MF-139                           
 
                                                            
 
 
This telegram must be   
closely paraphrased before   
               being communicated to anyone.                
 
                        Vatican City                        
 
                  Dated December 13, 1944                   
 
                   Rec'd 10:21 a.m., 14th                   
 
                     Secretary of State                     
 
                         Washington                         
 
                  402, December 13, 5 p.m.                  
 
              CONFIDENTIAL FOR PRESIDENT ONLY.              
 
                                                            
 
 
Count Sforza unexpectedly called at our villa last night and   
reviewed entirely at his own instance his situation asking my advice if he   
should still accept the appointment to America as Ambassador. He stated   
that yesterday Bonomi had urged him to accept the post. Sforza indicated   
that he did not wish to embarrass you or our country and was anxious that   
you should personally know his attitude. My only reply at the end of his   
long discourse was that his acceptance was entirely a question which he   
would have to decide for himself and that I could not advise him in such a   
matter. I asked if he had talked with Ambassador Kirk to which he replied   
in the affirmative. After a cup of tea and some general observations not   
connected with Italian poltical affairs he left. I may say that during   
ortnight the Lietenant General of the Realm, the Foreign Sec
 
                     the Duke of Aosta