File No. 763.72111/3370
The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary of State: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday concerning the arrival at New York of the S. S. Verona with two 76 millimeter guns mounted aft and 200 shells for same.
As far as the officers and members of the crew of the said steamer are concerned, you are no doubt aware that, as we have conscription in Italy, every man who is physically fit must do a term of military service either in the Army or in the Navy. At the expiration of their term both officers and men are discharged, but, up to a certain age, they are kept on the Reserve lists and are liable to be recalled to the colors.
The mere fact that they are employed on board a merchantman flying the merchant flag proves that they have not been recalled, as, in this latter case, they would have to quit their occupation immediately in order to join the colors and return to active service under control of naval or military authorities.
In the case of the Verona the vessel is manned by its usual crew and the officers are old employees of the Navigazione Générale Italiana, upon whose steamers they have served many years.
As to the assurances I gave you on the occasion of the arrival at New York of the Verdi, they were given not only with the full cognizance and authorization, but in the name or His Majesty’s Government, and they were intended to cover, not only the case of the Verdi, but any other case of Italian merchantmen armed for merely defensive purposes visiting American ports.
Should you, however, prefer that these assurances be repeated to you for each single armed ship visiting American ports, I am quite prepared to do so at your request, as in the present case of the Verona, concerning which I beg to confirm that her guns will only be used for defensive purposes, and not to attack a submarine whilst being warned.
I am [etc.]