-4-
 
that was Ribbentrop's statement, but he could not help
 
wondering about its truth. He said that he had spoken
 
to Ribbentrop with regard to the distressing situation
 
of the Catholics in Poland, and had asked whether the
 
German Government would not agree to the appointment of
 
a Papal delegate to proceed to German occupied Poland
 
in order to investigate what the conditions there might
 
in fact be. He said that he had been unable to obtain
 
any assurance from Ribbentrop on this point, and that
 
the latter had merely said, when pressed, that he would
 
take the matter under consideration.
 
     At one point in the conversation Myron Taylor broke
 
in and inquired of the Pope whether there would be revolu-
 
tion in Italy if Mussolini brought Italy into the war
 
on the side of Germany. His Holiness looked exceedingly
 
surprised, and hesisated a considerable time in framing
 
his reply. Finally he expressed the belief that while
 
public opinion in Italy was definitely opposed to Italian
 
participation in the war, he doubted exceedingly that
 
there would be any open rebellion against Mussolini's
 
authority--for at least some time--if Italy entered the
 
war on the side of Germany.
 
     The Pope emphasized his gratification at the desig-
 
nation by the President of his personal representative
 
to the Vatican, and repeated to me what he had already
 
Mr. Taylor, namely, that Mr. Taylor could have
 
access to him at any time that he desired. He asked me
 
convey an affectionate message of greeting to the
 
President, and said that he would always recall with
 
the deepest pleasure the conversation he had with the
 
President at Hyde Park.
 
                                        The