File No. 763.72112/1204

The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

307. Your 240, 28th.2 Following is translated full text of Foreign Office circular note containing decree:3

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has the honor to bring to the attention of the Embassy of the United States the following declaration:

The Royal Italian Government, in view of the war existing between Italy and Austria-Hungary and in consideration of the fact that the Austro-Hungarian naval authorities are making use of some ports of the Albanian coast for the clandestine revictualing of their war flotilla, declares that from the 26th May:

1.
The Austro-Hungarian coast stretching from the Italian frontier in the north to the Montenegrin frontier in the south with all its ports, islands, harbors, roads and creeks;
2.
The coast of Albania, extending from the Montenegrin frontier in the north as far as Cape Kephali included in the south; will be held in a state of effective blockade by the Italian naval forces.

The geographical limits of the blockaded territories are as follows:

For the Austro-Hungarian coast: Northern limit 45° 42′ 50″ latitude north and 13° 15′ 10″ longitude east from Greenwich; southern limit 42° 06′ 25″ latitude north and 19° 05′ 30″ longitude east from Greenwich. For the Albanian coast: Northern limit 41° 52′ latitude north and 19° 22′ 40″ longitude east from Greenwich; southern limit 39° 54′ 15″ latitude north and 19° 55′ 30″ longitude east from Greenwich.

The ships of friendly or neutral powers will have a delay which shall be established by the Commander in Chief of the Italian naval forces from the date of the declaration of the blockade in order that they may freely leave the blockaded zone. Any ship which in violation of the blockade shall attempt to cross or shall have crossed the barred line established between Cape Otranto and Cape Kephali will be proceeded against in conformity with the rules of international law and existing treaties.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be obliged if the Embassy of the United States will kindly bring the above-mentioned declaration as soon as possible to the knowledge of its Government.

Nelson Page
  1. Not printed.
  2. Effective May 26, 1915.