File No. 763.72/2524
The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di
Cellere) to the Secretary of State
Washington,
March 23, 1916
.
My Dear Mr. Secretary of State: As I have
had the pleasure of informing you by my letter of January 22d, I did
not fail to transmit to my Government the communication you kindly
addressed to me on January 19, calling their attention to the
considerations contained therein and to the propositions concerning
the defensive armament of merchantmen.
The Royal Government have carefully examined the important questions
involved, as you will have noticed also from the preliminary
considerations submitted to the American Ambassador at Rome on
February 19, and after having proceeded to an exchange of views with
the Allied Governments have now formulated their final reply to the
American proposal, of which in conformity with the instructions
received, I hasten to transmit the text to you herewith.
Believe me [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Royal Italian Government have already had the honor of
submitting to the American Ambassador at Rome in a note verbale dated February 10, their
considerations regarding the proposal concerning armed
merchantmen made on January 19 by the American Government to the
representatives of the Allied Governments in Washington.
After an exchange of views with the Allied Governments, the
Italian Government have now the honor to communicate to the
American Government their final answer on the question.
His Majesty’s Government feel they could not but confirm the
views expressed in their note verbale of
February 19. Submarine warfare as practiced up to now by the
Austro-Hungarian Government and their allies implies a violation
of those principles of international law and humanity which it
is a strict duty of belligerents to respect, whatever may be the
instruments of war of which they avail themselves. This
violation has been the cause of serious and illegal damage to
the persons and property both of belligerent and neutral
nations.
It is superfluous to recall the case of the Ancona which was sunk under circumstances which the
Austro-Hungarian Government themselves have been unable to
deny.
The Italian Government consider it, therefore, impossible to
renounce a legal means of protection which has been recognized
by international law and which is used by Italian merchantmen
for exclusively defensive purposes. The American Government
themselves have, at the beginning of the war, expressed a
similar point of view. It would, furthermore, not be in
accordance with the principles recognized by the Hague
conventions, that the rules approved by them should be changed
during the course of the war.
Although appreciating the highly humanitarian sentiments which
have inspired the American suggestion, the Italian Government
feel that, in view of the above considerations, they could not
give their adhesion to the American Government’s proposal, which
would practically put merchantmen at the mercy of submarines by
depriving them of their only means of defense and is based upon
the sole obligation to provide for the safety of passengers, an
obligation which the submarines cannot fulfil in practice, owing
to their lack of adequate means to this end.
