File No. 711.654/4–5.
Ambassador Griscom to the Secretary of State.
Rome , June 19, 1908 .
Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 173 of February 11, 1907, directing me to enter into negotiations with the Italian Government [Page 395] for the conclusion of a treaty of naturalization between Italy and the United States, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith inclosed a copy and translation of the reply1 of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to my note to him of May 25, 1907, a copy of which accompanied my dispatch to you, No. 82, of June 5, 1907.
Mr. Tittoni referred the proposal to a committee which has reported to him substantially as follows:
Italy contributes emigrants to many countries other than the United States, with all of which frequent difficulties arise as to the treatment of those Italians who become naturalized therein. For Italy to make a convention with each of these States would not be easy of execution, and a number of different clauses adapted to the laws of each country would be necessary. It is of paramount interest for Italy to come to some agreement regarding the conditions of persons born in a foreign country of Italian fathers, where the laws of the country of birth impose that country’s citizenship. Up to the present all such agreements have failed, with the result that in several foreign countries the children of Italian parents are born and grow, up with a dual nationality. The subject being so complicated, it is deemed advisable to regulate it, not by means of international agreements, which would necessarily vary and be incomplete in substance, but rather by means of provisions of national legislation, which should grant uniform and special advantages and impose special obligations on Italian emigrants according to the different conditions which exist in the foreign countries where they reside.
Mr. Tittoni declares that he accepts the conclusions of the committee, and in view of its report, has taken steps to have begun at once the study of regulations which will be submitted for the approbation of Parliament. He requests me to express to you the Italian Government’s regret at being compelled to decline our offer to open negotiations for the conclusion of a naturalization treaty.
Yesterday I called upon Mr. Bollati, the Secretary General of the Italian Foreign Office, and pointed out to him that Mr. Tittoni’s note leaves unanswered all the questions of principle involved in my note of May 25, 1907. I stated that I hesitated to transmit to you such a reply without having some further explanation of the position and intentions of the Italian Government. Mr. Bollati said that the refusal was not owing to principle, but solely because the moment is considered inopportune in view of the fact that the Italian Government is about to appoint a commission to consider and propose changes in the Italian laws regarding citizenship and particularly affecting the obligations of military service of Italian subjects who became naturalized abroad. The Italian Government is beset by frequent difficulties arising under the present laws, not only with the United States, but also with several other countries; consequently, instead of negotiating a series of treaties with them, it is proposed to settle the matter by altering the Italian domestic law. I suggested that this might take a long time to accomplish; to which Mr. Bollati replied that he could guarantee me that it would be quickly put through, not in one or two months, but in a fairly short time. He added that when the Italian law has been altered, and if international [Page 396] questions continue to arise, it will be time to consider the advisability of a treaty with the United States.
Mr. Bollati satisfied me that the Italian Government will make a serious attempt at an early date to remedy the existing evils by legislation. However unsatisfactory this reply may be from our point of view, I am afraid that little would be accomplished by the presentation of further arguments at the present moment. I shall be glad to learn of the view which the Department takes of Mr. Tittoni’s answer, and if it is desired that I press the matter further.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩