File No. 365.117/45.
Ambassador Page to the Secretary of State.
Rome, October 14, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 79 of September 23. The matter of securing the consent of the Italian Government to the return to America of naturalized American citizens of Italian birth, detained here by the Italian authorities as subject to their military regulations, has been engaging my constant attention. I have written no less than nine notes to the Foreign Office expressing the great interest that we feel in this important matter, and those communications have been followed up by several personal visits, in which I have urged our views upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Italian Government indicates some willingness to grant the permission requested in certain cases. It states, however, that: [Page 411]
In order that the. Italian authorities may be able to ascertain the possibility of allowing these several Italians to return to the country of their adoption in spite of the prohibition against their departure as set forth in Royal Decree No. 803 of August 3 last, it is necessary that the War Department be informed, in each of the cases, not only as to the general antecedents of each individual, but in addition the commune from which they came originally, as well as the social position, i. e., the business, occupation or profession of their parents at the time of their birth.
In view of the foregoing, it seems to me essential that some action should be taken to have a naturalization treaty negotiated between our two Governments. Our naturalized citizens of Italian origin do not seem to understand in the least dual citizenship. It is one of the subjects which appears to me likely, unless some agreement can be arrived at, to cause friction in the future between our Governments.
I shall continue to use every proper effort to get these citizens released.
I have the honor [etc.]