Papal envoy Cesare Orsenigo, the President of the Slovak State Jozef Tiso, the heads of the branches of Nazi Germany's armed forces, and mayors of German cities offered birthday congratulations at the chancellery.[5][6] Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini exchanged telegrams assuring each other that the friendship between Germany and the Kingdom of Italy (both ruled by fascist regimes at the time) could not be disturbed by their enemies.[11] The ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, and the United States were not present at the parade, having been withdrawn after Hitler's march into Czechoslovakia in 1938.[1] The U.S. was represented at the troop review by chargé d'affaires Raymond H. Geist.[6] U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not congratulate Hitler on his birthday, in accordance with his practice of not sending birthday greetings to anyone but ruling monarchs.[12] King George VI of the United Kingdom dispatched a message of congratulation to Hitler; but due to the strained relations between the two countries, his advisors had considered whether the King should ignore the birthday altogether.[13] There was no Polish representation at the parade.[1]