File No. 365.117/243.
Ambassador Page to the Secretary of State.
Rome, December 20, 1915.
Sir: I have the honor to report that your telegram No. 415 of the 16th instant relating to the case of Enrico Ajello, held in Italy for military service arrived in the afternoon of the 17th, and I immediately sent an earnest note to the Foreign Office, pressing the case on the attention of the Italian Government, and asking for a response at as early a moment as possible. I endeavored to make an appointment to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday and called personally at that Ministry with regard to the matter; but as neither the Minister nor the Under Secretaries were able to receive me at that time, I called this morning again and had an interview with the Under Secretary (il Capo di Gabinetto), whom I have often found to have practical charge in similar matters.
I impressed upon him, with the utmost earnestness, our contention that this man, born in America, and having lived in America substantially all of his life continuously, could not be regarded as coming within the category of those liable to what may be termed the duties of dual citizenship; but was only an American citizen, although his father, who had lived in America since before his birth, had taken out naturalization papers only after his birth.
[Page 584]I pointed out to him the difficulties that might arise and appeared on the point of arising, should the retention of a man thus situated be insisted upon. In fact, I employed every argument which seemed to me possible, and, as you may imagine, my earnestness was not lessened, from the fact that I had from time to time, had to help Ajello with modest personal donations to relieve his necessities.
It is a fact, however, as you will readily recall, that hitherto, no one born prior to his father’s naturalization has been formally released by the Italian Government from the call to military service, although in certain instances men thus situated have been allowed to return to America without such formal release.
In pressing this case, I took occasion again to present what appeared to me the necessity for a naturalization treaty between our two Governments, and in arguing how easy it was for the people of one country or another to become excited over the apparent injustice of unrecognized authority on the part of another power, over their fellow-citizens, I was able to present forcibly the danger of serious friction arising between our two countries over just such cases as this.
How far this will affect the desired result in Ajello’s case I can not say, for I have gone over the same subject before with the Minister for Foreign Affairs himself; but I am ready to take as firm a stand in regard to these American born citizens as I may be authorized to take.
It appears to me, indeed, that the justice in these cases is entirely on our side and that it is archaic to claim, in this age of the world, that the rights of a government follow its emigrants to the second generation.
I shall continue to do all I can in this and similar cases, and stand ready to carry out your instructions as to these cases as firmly as you may feel the situation shall demand.
I have [etc.]