File No. 365.117/9.
The Secretary of State to Ambassador O’Brien.
Washington, July 15, 1913.
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 254 of June 11, 1913, in reply to its instruction No. 139, of May 26 last, concerning the age limit for military service in Italy.
In the Department’s printed circular entitled “Notice to American Citizens Formerly Subjects of Italy Who Contemplate Returning to that Country,” dated March 18, 1901, a copy of which was enclosed with the instruction mentioned above,’ appears the following statement:
A former Italian subject may visit Italy without fear of molestation when he is under the age of 20 years; but between the ages of 20 and 39 he is liable to arrest and forced military service, if he has not previously reported for such service. After the age of 39 he may be arrested and imprisoned (but will not be compelled to do military duty) unless he has been pardoned. He may petition the Italian Government for pardon, but this Department will not act as the intermediary in presenting his petition.
You will please inform the Department, after such further inquiry as may be necessary, whether the paragraph just quoted is correct or should be amended. This paragraph does not appear to agree with the following statement in your despatch of June 11:
After the age of 32, while a subject is still liable for military service in the territorial reserves, he is not punishable for past failure to appear for service.
I am [etc.]