Extracts from a confidential report from Robert Brennan to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(108/71/39) (Copy)

The action of President Roosevelt in deciding to appoint Mr. Myron C. Taylor¹ as a Representative at the Vatican is the outcome of a long series of negotiations extending over the past two or three years. It is explained officially that Mr. Taylor while having the status of an Ambassador will not have the rank of such. The ostensible reason for the appointment is that the President and the Pope can work more easily to bring about that international peace which both so ardently desire. Simultaneously with his message announcing the appointment of Mr. Taylor, the President issued a peace message addressed to the Head of the Protestant Churches in America, and the Head of the Jewish Church.

Spokesmen for the White House are anxious to dispel the idea that this step means the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Vatican. I learned on good authority that this is correct for the moment. There has been some criticism from the ultra Protestant sections.

The objection to the resumption of diplomatic relations is twofold. Firstly, it might create an out-cry amongst the anti-Catholic elements in the South who still are really bigoted against Rome but whose spokesmen base their objection on the grounds that freedom loving Americans dislike the idea of church and State being linked as in Vatican City. The other objection is that if there were a Papal Nuncio here he would have to be Dean of the Diplomatic Corps as he is in the European and South American countries where the Vatican is officially represented.