REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. DECLASSIFIED Authority State better the by me NARS 02:0 2498 Enclosure to despatch no.
of November 20, 1943, from the Embassy, San José, Costa Rica.
o h Memorandum of Conversation. Accompanied by Mr. Curte, or the Embassy start, called this morning on the Archbishop or conta Rica, Monseñor Victor Manuel Sanabria, in order to discuss with him the Coordinator program for inviting certain Catholic sisters to study hospital and nursing conditions in the United States.
Following the termination of the disoussion of this matter we had a general conversation which shall attempt to summarize below: Comment on European Situation. Italy and Franco.
The Archbishop said he considered the situation of the Catholic Church today as extremely perilous, more so in fact than had been the case since the Napoleonic era.
He mentioned, for example, the disastrous effoots which the death of the present Pope might have under the comditions now prevailing in Italy. Since most of the cardinals are located in territory controlled by the would be no assurance that a fair election to choose a new Pope could be held, and in fact there might be an excellent probability of a Quisling Pope.
The Archbishop was concerned over future developments in both Italy and France; he referred in this connection to the possibility of mill advised revanche. He admitted that high dignitaries of the Church had had to be at least superficially pro Fascist, but implied that this should not be held against the Church since it was a condition which arose not from conviction but from duress. He characterized some of the pronouncements of Count Sforza and others planning for post war Italy as somewhat imtransigeant and unrealistic. He mentioned in passing, the fact that the Italians who had been liberated thus far had received the American and British troops with friendliness, which he attributed to the generosity of our Army Commanders and the good behavior of our troops.
He contrasted this behavior with that of German or other European troops when entering conquered territory.
He said he feared the French National Committee of Liberation which, he added, had caused many headaches to the United States. was also taking a somewhat arbitrary position, especially as regards the conduct of Frenchmen now in France. He thought it extremely dirficult for persons living in occupied France to follow the lino recommended by General de Gaulle, and the Arch.
bishop thought we would see a good deal of trouble between the various French factions once that country had been liberated.
Russia.
See Monseñor Sanabria mentioned that he had heard. and found very interesting. the address delivered last night by Secretary Cordell Hull. In his opinion, considerable progress