File No. 865.012/4
The Secretary of State to Chargé Jay
Washington, June 30, 1916.
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 501, of May 26, 1916, in regard to the detention in Italy of American citizens of Italian origin, and the desirability of concluding a naturalization treaty with Italy.
Notwithstanding the assurances of the Italian Government that wives and children of Italians naturalized in this country would not be held in Italy for the purpose of compelling their husbands and fathers to return to Italy for military service, I regret to say that the Department has recently been informed of several cases in which they have been held. The appropriate consular officers have been [Page 421] instructed to endeavor to obtain permission for them to depart. It is quite possible, however, that these cases had arisen before the assurances of the Italian Government, mentioned above, had been given.
If any cases are brought to your attention which arose after these assurances had been given, you will of course make further representations to the Italian Government. In such case you might suggest that general instructions in the matter be issued to the appropriate local officials. The cases in question may have been caused by overzeal on the part of such officials.
While it appears, for the reasons mentioned in your despatch, that there is little likelihood that a naturalization treaty can be concluded with Italy during the continuance of the present war, the Department will expect you to keep this important matter constantly in mind. The need of such a treaty is very great, not only for insuring protection of the rights of naturalized citizens who have done nothing to divest themselves of such rights, but also for definitely fixing the status of naturalized citizens who have returned to their native lands for permanent residence and have thus abandoned the rights obtained through naturalization.
I have [etc.]