File No. 365.117/157.
Ambassador Page to the Secretary of State.
Rome, August 20, 1915.
Sir: With reference to the Department’s despatch No. 188 of July 29, 1915, I have the honor to state that information of Enrico Ajello was first brought to the attention of the Embassy by the American Consul at Naples, who enclosed me a copy of a telegram sent [April 16] to the Department asking for information regarding the American citizenship of Ajello. Following this I received a letter from the Consul, dated May 4, 1915, from which I give the following extract:
It is understood that the local authorities, now being satisfied that Mr. Ajello is a native-born American citizen, are willing to permit him to embark, notwithstanding the fact that he is not able to prove to their satisfaction that he was born after his father acquired American citizenship.
After this Mr. Ajello came to Rome and requested that this Embassy telegraph to his brother (see my telegram No. 332 of June 18, 1915) asking him to send him $100 with which to pay his passage to America, also stating at the same time that he felt sure that he would not be prohibited from leaving Italy if he had a sufficient [Page 575] amount to pay his passage. Since that time he has not been heard from.
I am today writing the Consul at Naples to know if Mr. Ajello has returned there and his present situation.
I have [etc.]