Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 25. (1972) - Festschrift für Hanns Leo Mikoletzky

HOLLAENDER, Albert E. J.: Offiziere und Prälaten. Zur Fuldaer Bischofskonferenz, August 1945

Offiziere und Prälaten

197

V orbemerkung. Im — geringfügigen — textkritischen Apparat des nachstehenden Transkripts ist die Lambeth Palace Library (Bell Pa- pers)-Kopie mit L, die Westminster-Kopie mit W gekennzeichnet.

Undatiert (1945, nach August 24) TOP SECRET

Subject: Report by Col. R. L. Sedgwick on the Conference of Bishops held at Fulda, August 21st—24th, 1945.

PRELIMINARY.

1. On learning that American Religious Affairs officers, reporters and other representatives would be present at the Fulda Conference, Sir William Strang expressed the opinion that a British observer should also attend. Accordingly, Political Division asked the Director of Education Branch to send a qualified representative and as Head of Religious Affairs Section I was asked to proceed to Fulda as soon as the necessary arrangements had been made.

2. I saw Mr. King') on August 19th. He had heard from Berlin that the conference was postponed but he was unable to confirm this either by telephone or signal. This was unfortunate, as it proved to be only a rumour and in consequence I arrived at Fulda a day late. However, I missed only the opening ceremony and was in time for the main business.

3. The Foreign Office was interested in four special points in addition to the general findings of the Bishops: —

(i) The attitude of the German Bishops to the Italian Apostolic Nuncio, titular Archbishop of Sardes a), Monsignore Cesare Orsenigo, at present residing at Eichstätt (American Zone).

(ii) Monsignor Orsenigo’s own opinion of his present position.

(iii) The collective attitude of the Hierarchy to the Concordat 2).

(iv) Some expression of German war and atrocity guilt.

4. Useful information was obtained on the first three points and in spite of considerable misgivings on point 4 I was able to persuade the Bishops to include a clear statement of German guilt in their memorandum to Control Council.

5. The signal sent by Political Division to Mil. Gov., Fulda, was not received, and I therefore arrived unexpected. Nevertheless, accomodation and hospitality were excellent. * 1

der University of Sussex; The Right Hon. Richard H. S. Crossman, O. B. E., M. A., M. P.; Mr. Godfrey A. F. Scheele, M. A., Senior Assistant Keeper, Department of Printed Books, British Museum. Seinem lieben Freund und Kollegen Anthony G. Dyson, B. A., B. Litt. (Guildhall Library, London) ist er für vielfache liebenswürdige Mühewaltung herzlich verbunden.

a) Korrigiert in Tintenschrift in Tolemaide W.

1) Nicht mit absoluter Bestimmtheit identifiziert, aber höchstwahrscheinlich identisch mit Robert Dean King, spezieller Vertreter (für Deutschland) des Präsidenten der International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation und als solcher dem Control Council im Rang eines Oberstleutnants zur Dienstleistung zugewiesen, 1945—1946. Später logistisch-technischer Berater des US Generalstabs im Department of the Army und schließlich Deputy Assistant Secretary dieser Behörde.

2) Reichskonkordat vom 20. Juli 1933: Levy The Catholic Church 57—86; Conway The Nazi Persecution passim.