Office of the Historian

File No. 365.117/173.

Ambassador Page to the Secretary of State.

No. 367.]
American Embassy,
Rome, September 4, 1915.

Sir: Referring to this Embassy’s despatch No. 362 of August 27 in regard to the case of Frank L. Ghiloni, an American citizen now serving in the Italian Army, I have the honor to report that the Embassy has received a communication from Mr. Alfred R. Ghiloni at Marlboro, Mass., stating that his brother Frank L. Ghiloni is in poor health and believed to be suffering from gall stones and that it is hoped the Italian military authorities will relieve him from duty on this ground if no other.

I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a note verbale which the Embassy sent today to the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs upon this subject. It will be noted that the Embassy, while asking for a medical examination with a view to his possible exemption, has not surrendered its claim for Mr. Ghiloni’s release on other grounds.

I have [etc.]

For the Ambassador:
Peter A. Jay.
[Inclosure.]

The American Embassy to the Foreign Office.

note verbale.

With reference to the note dated August 16 from the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs in regard to Frank L. Ghiloni, a native-born American citizen, now enrolled in the Royal Italian Army, the American Embassy has the honor to inform the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs that it is in receipt of information that Mr. Ghiloni is in very bad health and believed to be suffering from gall stones.

The American Embassy, while maintaining its request that Mr. Ghiloni be released on the ground that he is a native-born American citizen, suggests that he be subject to a careful medical examination by the military authorities with a view to his exemption from service if found unfit for duty.

American Embassy,
Rome, September 4, 1915.