DEPARTMENT OF STATE                     
 
                     INCOMING TELEGRAM                      
 
                          AMT-1850                          
 
                                                            
 
 
This telegram must be closely paraphrased before being communicated to   
                          anyone.                           
 
                        Vatican City                        
 
                  Dated December 20, 1944                   
 
                      REC'D 3:03 P.M                        
 
                    SECRETARY OF STATE,                     
 
                        WASHINGTON.                         
 
                  411, December 20,4 P.M.                   
 
                     FOR THE PRESIDENT                      
 
                                                            
 
 
Columbia Broadcasting offered for sunday morning 11:30 New York   
time a Twelve minute broadcast by me with a ten minute reply by   
Prime Minister Bonomi regarding American Relief for Italy. Prime   
Minister (*) at once set about writing his speeck.  I had thought   
well of it but found difficulty in the short time to prepare   
anything that was entertaining and not likley to excite controversy.   
I mentioned it to the Pope this moring who thought it an excellent   
idea.  I advised Columbia to postpone the date though Christmas   
time had many advantages.  The aim on my part would be to excite   
continued contributions-- the Prime Minister to express the   
gratitude of Italy which is very real.  If you favor this plan now   
orlater would like your literary staff to try a hand at something   
you consider helpful and safe and telegraph it to me.  With kind   
                          regards.                          
 
                           TAYLOR                           
 
                            MRM                             
 
          (*) Apparent omission has been serviced.