765.84/2405: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
811. Your 195, November 5, 4 p.m. It is not possible at this time to give even an approximate estimate of the effect of sanctions on living conditions. The Consulates were requested some weeks ago to make weekly reports giving the cost of certain specified items such as macaroni, bread, butter, cheese, beef, veal, fish, coal, soap and certain other articles comprising the basic necessities of life. Only the first two weekly reports have arrived so it is impossible to make any exact comparisons except to indicate that they show a rise in the price of many of the commodities. For instance, bar soap for washing purposes has risen from 90 centesimi to lire 1.50, anthracite coal from lire 1.80 to 2.80 per quintal. However, these rises in price and rises in many other commodities are due to the psychological effect of the imposition of sanctions and not to the sanctions themselves for they have not yet come into force. The greatest effect is psychological. The people are distinctly worried about them and are inclined I think to exaggerate their effects. This is partly due to the fact that the Government has made so much propaganda against the sanctioning governments and has so fervently appealed to the people to submit to privations that they have probably been unduly impressed. Their reactions are entirely in support of the Government and against the sanctioning countries. Furthermore, part of the rise in prices has been due to the fact that persons with cash have laid in supplies of nonperishable goods such as coal and soap and there has been consequently an abnormal demand with a consequent rise in prices of such commodities.
[Page 816]Generally speaking, living conditions have not changed much. The necessities of life are all available though at somewhat higher prices. The Italian populace takes the situation stoically but those who are willing to talk all express both fear for the future of Italy and personal resentment against sanctioning governments. England is the particular object of their hatred and to such an extent that even representative Englishmen are apt to be treated with curt civility in the most punctilious society.
Proceeding to answer your question specifically: I do not anticipate that foreigners residing here will generally speaking suffer privations. The direct answer of course will depend upon the duration of the sanctions period and upon report on effectiveness of its application. In this latter respect it is presumed in informed quarters that it will be found impossible by various of the European governments to apply sanctions strictly because either of internal political conditions which would prevent them from a severe application or because various important elements of their citizens desire to profit by a trade with Italy on a cash basis.
As regards privations which may affect their health one must always consider the possibility, though it is not now apparent, of the denial of proper food to children. And as regards the general health of foreigners I will only mention as an indication of a condition already developed as regards medicines of foreign manufacture that my chef who is a sufferer from diabetes is unable to buy longer in Italy medicine for the insulin treatment and I have already sent to Paris to obtain some for him through diplomatic channels. There probably will be a good deal of privation of that sort which may also affect Americans.
Ancillary to the category which you mention in your question under consideration I would like to call to your attention the peculiar situation of the Vatican and its appendages resident in Rome. They are strictly speaking foreigners resident in Italy. The Vatican is recognized by many governments as an independent state but is not a member of the League of Nations and peculiarly enough was not recognized by the League in its inquiry to non-members. This inquiry was addressed to such states as Danzig, Liechtenstein and Monaco but not to the Vatican. Being entirely within the confines of Italy the members of the Vatican state are subject to the imposition of sanctions and to such of its rigor as may affect their health. In addition there are many institutions of many thousands of persons in the aggregate dependent from the Vatican and resident within the City of Rome outside the Vatican walls. In spite of their actual residence in Rome, they are affiliates of, and are considered as part of, the Holy See. These are peaceful unwarlike bodies of men pertaining to and all heading up in the personality of the Pope. They are all subject to the sanctions. It is quite possible that some day some intimation may [Page 817] be made by the Vatican authorities in allusion to some of the humanitarian phases of vigorous application, particularly in regard to the peaceful and innocuous members of that organization.
I do not anticipate that Americans are likely to experience difficulties of a financial nature except insofar as it may be difficult for representatives of American firms to find foreign exchange with which to pay for goods of a non-essential character. Nor do I anticipate any resentment upon foreigners other than England [English?] who are living here as residents because they are consuming essential foods.
Certain restrictions on the consumption of food, principally meats, are already in force and the members of the American Embassy and Consulates are instructed to observe these regulations as a matter of courtesy and in order to eliminate any reason for resentment on the ground that we are unnecessarily consuming essential foods. As regards essential materials, it is also to be noted that gasoline will be difficult to obtain, the price having been advanced to about a dollar and a half a gallon, in order to discourage the unnecessary use. It is also rumored that diplomatic officers will be asked to find their own foreign exchange in payment for such gasoline as they may buy.
There is danger that a confusion of nationalities in the minds of any local population in Italy may involve an American, but the danger will be immediately relieved, if it is discovered in time that the person is an American. There was a near incident a few nights ago when students were manifesting against English concerns and when an American lady happened to find herself in the vicinity. Such incidents are likely to occur but any person known to be an American will receive the most courteous and cordial treatment. There was a distinct corroborating evidence [corroboration?] of that statement on Italian armistice day when a casual group of Fascists on their way to the Piazza Venezia halted before the American Consulate and gave a rousing demonstration of friendship with cries of “Long live America” and “Down with England”. As long as the atmosphere continues friendly to America there will be no danger, but if the United States should assume a position similar to the other sanctioning countries, the populace could be immediately inflamed to an antagonism against America which probably would be more intense because it is the least expected. In this connection, I will remark that while the people generally are ignorant of the intricacies of the eventual purposes of American policy, due to unprecedented censorship, they consider that America has assumed a position of strict neutrality and is a nonpartisan in what they consider persecutions. Yet the Government and the well-informed view the attitude of America with considerable suspicion and are as yet unable to make up their minds that the United States will not proceed farther on the road to support the policies adopted at Geneva. The population is so volatile that they could be [Page 818] easily inflamed by their Government against America but under the circumstances that exist at the present time the only danger comes from mistaking Americans for English. Persons visiting in the small towns of Italy report that they are immediately asked the question whether they are Americans or English. When the answer is given that they are Americans they are greeted with smiles and every manifestation of friendship. The feeling against England is very intense and runs through every degree of society, from the most cultured and aristocratic at the top, right down through every class to the ordinary workman and the peasant.
I do not believe of necessity the responsibilities of protection will be materially increased and consequently, have not worked out any plan for protection, which might be advisable to follow. However, I will consider it and consult the Consuls.
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