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  4. Document 462

865.4016/54: Telegram

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

Rome , September 1, 1938—6 p.m.
[Received September 1—2:42 p.m.]

223. My 207, August 19, 6 p.m. The Council of Ministers approved at its meeting today the following decree pertaining to foreign Jews in Italy: [Page 589]

“On the proposal of the Duce and the Minister of the Interior it is resolved to regulate in the following manner the status of foreigners of the Jewish race who have taken up residence in Italy, Libya or in the Aegean possessions subsequent to the Great War, namely January 1, 1919, including also such persons (and their number is insignificant) who have in the meanwhile acquired Italian citizenship.

  • Article I. From the date of publication of the present Decree Law foreign Jews are forbidden to fix their permanent residence in the Kingdom, in Libya and in the Aegean possessions.
  • Article II. For the purposes of the present Decree Law any person if he is born of parents both of whom are of the Jewish race shall be considered a Jew even though he may profess a religion other than the Hebraic.
  • Article III. The admission of foreign Jews to Italian citizenship subsequent to January 1, 1919 is to all intents and purposes considered revoked.
  • Article IV. Foreigners of the Jewish race who at the date of publication of the present Decree Law are within the Kingdom, Libya and the Aegean possessions and who began their sojourn therein subsequent to January 1, 1919, must leave the territory of the Kingdom, Libya and the Aegean possessions within 6 months from the date of publication of the present Decree Law.

Those who shall have failed to conform to this obligation within the aforesaid period shall be expelled from the Kingdom in accordance with article 150 of the codified text of the Public Security laws after the application of penalties established by law.”

There have been recent indications that there had been an abatement of the anti-Jewish campaign. Consequently the severity of this decree was wholly unexpected. I intend to discuss the matter with the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs at the earliest opportunity.

Phillips