763.72/4029½
The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14.]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Most of the things to which this letter relates will have come to a head before it reaches you, and you will probably know even without my telling you that a number of those measures which appeared to have their origin in this part of the world do not reach the proportions which are brought to your attention without being directed and impelled. The whole question of supply whether of money or of material, such as food, coal, steel, etc. comes within the above list. The situation has become so imperative here of late that a Commission of some kind is going over to America immediately and I have just given the Minister of Transportation, Sr. Enrico Arlotta, a letter of introduction to you, as he is going immediately. I hope also that Marconi may go with him, or follow him very closely as he stands for something international and is one of those who has the broad view and understands profoundly how the relations between the two countries should be strengthened in every way possible.
You will have seen from my telegram11 that I have felt the great importance of some aid being extended to Italy directly instead of through the medium of the other Allies. There is no question that Italy feels most sensibly her subjection in the present situation to both England and France, especially the former, and that this is the moment in which she would do much to be emancipated from this subjection, however measurably and therefore will deal with America in a more liberal spirit than has hitherto been found in our relations with her.
I do not wish to suggest the Naturalization Treaty in any way as a condition precedent to the aid which we may be able to extend her, but I feel that it is not inappropriate to urge Italy to enter on negotiations for this Treaty, and I have suggested it to Baron Sonnino and also to several other Ministers with whom I have been brought in touch of late. Baron Sonnino said that since we had entered the conflict on the side of the Allies it would certainly seem easier to accomplish than before; for this reason I am urging with as much earnestness as possible that this Naturalization Treaty be put through and I have some hope of succeeding in getting it done.
Quite irrespective of this however I trust very much that a Loan may be made to Italy of as large an amount as may seem feasible along the lines suggested by the Minister of the Treasury Sig. Carcano [Page 9] and also that, if possible, ships may be furnished for the transport of American coal, grain and other products, of which Italy stands at present in real need. I feel sure that if this be done we shall be able hereafter to obtain our fair share of the commerce of Italy instead of, as hitherto, being almost excluded therefrom. I cannot emphasize too strongly the need which Italy has at present of coal, grain, steel, corn, hay, sugar, etc.
I am sending a memorandum12 handed me yesterday or the day before by Sig. Arlotta, the Minister of Transportation, showing that Italy absolutely needs 650,000 tons of coal per month and that at present she is getting only about 400,000 tons. Her normal consumption is about 800,000 tons per month. What she needs also quite as much as coal is the ships to bring it here, and I understand that this is one of the prime motives of Mr. Arlotta’s visit to America.
When I get time I am going to send copies of a speech or two which I have had an opportunity to deliver here in Rome and which I hope may have some effect in opening the eyes of the Italian people to what America stands for. They constitute a part of my general plan to try and interpret America to the Italians as something of much more value to them than they have hitherto been led to imagine. As a part of the same programme I am organizing a sort of Intelligence Department for the purpose of obtaining and collating all the information obtainable here in every field which I think may be of value to us at home in our endeavour to strengthen and make closer our relations. I have a good man to place at the head of it, Mr. G. Speranza, who is an American of culture and ability and whose articles may have attracted your attention as they have appeared in the Outlook, the New York Evening Post and perhaps other magazines. He is an American of Italian parentage, his father having been a professor at Columbia College. He has offered his services and I feel sure that we can justify the outlay to which I referred in my telegram of yesterday to you on this subject.12 The expense will be that of having a stenographer and typewriter and getting material. I thought that it might be tried for at least a few months in order to see how the plan works out.
I have been sending you in sections a report on the Mobilization of Economic Resources of Italy and the Administration thereof under the Extraordinary powers given the Government during the War.12 I have already sent one Section on Coal (Fuel); one on Foodstuffs; one on Munition Factories and the Industrial Mobilization connected therewith, and I am sending along with this part V Sections 1 & 2, the former being Legislation concerning the Vigilance and Economic Treatment of Aliens in Italy, and Section 2, being a report on the [Page 10] Censorship. I wish that the latter were in your hands now as I see that the question of the Censorship of the Press is being much discussed at home.
Personally I am a great believer in a free press; I feel that it is the true Palladium of Liberty. The Censorship which I believe in is that which relates to military secrets; the censorship of the mails is also of great importance; I refer to the mails for regions outside of the country, censorship of which have [has] proved of great value.
I hope very much that these reports which I have taken much trouble with are not filed for the benefit of future investigators into the archives of our Government, but will reach duly the proper authorities for consideration, especially as Italy’s handling of the question of spying and of secret information seemed very complete.
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Believe me [etc.]