Diplomats on the Move

Last week Myron C. Taylor, President Roosevelt's special envoy to the Vatican, paid a farewell call on Pope Pius XII, and left Rome for the U. S. Few thought ailing Envoy Taylor would ever return. But the Holy See's diplomacy, canniest in the world, had already taken a step to neutralize the effects of his departure. Day before the Taylor farewell the Pope ap pointed Monsignor Joseph Patrick Hurley, only U. S. member of his Secretariate of State, as Bishop of St. Augustine, Fla.

Bishop-elect Hurley's predecessor at St. Augustine, the Most Rev. Patrick Barry, had died only six days before. Such promptness in filling the vacancy was almost unprecedented. Obviously the Vatican was anxious to get Monsignor Hurley to the U. S. in an official capacity as soon as possible. Rumor had it that Monsignor Hurley, who as U. S. contact man for the Holy See saw much of Envoy Taylor, was going to the U. S. to continue his close cooperation with Mr. Taylor. Next day the Pope gave a private audience to the Bishop-elect, reportedly gave him instructions for a special mission in the U. S.

Many a Catholic thought the appointment might mean that a still higher promotion was in store for Monsignor Hurley. The U. S. hierarchy has long urged the Vatican to send an American as Apostolic Delegate to the U. S., especially since Britain has an English-born Papal representative. Present occupant of the hand some $1,000,000 Apostolic Delegation on Washington's Embassy Row is an Italian, the Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani. Bishop-elect Hurley's six-year tenure at the Vatican, plus the diplomatic posts he has capably filled in India and Japan, make him a logical choice.

Only other American who has ever served in the Vatican's Secretariate of State is round-faced, able Most Rev. Francis Joseph Spellman, Archbishop of New York, who was attached to the Secretariate seven years--serving the last two under Cardinal Pacelli (now Pius XII), who was Secretary of State. Archbishop Spellman knows the Pope better than any other U. S. Catholic. Last week the Archbishop was luncheon host to Presidential Candidate Wendell Willkie. Said the delighted Mr. Willkie: "We had a stimulating and fine talk--I can't say anything more than that." Archbishop Spellman said nothing much either; but it was certain that, come what may in November, the Vatican is prepared.

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