865.4016/63: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—10:15 a.m.]
236. My telegram No. 234, September 10, 1 p.m.33 In addition to the approximate number of 200 American Jews in Italy affected by the recent anti-Jewish decrees there are about 15,000 Jews of other nationalities equally affected. While I have not made inquiries among my colleagues it is certain that in addition to many German Jews there is in this country a substantial number of Polish, Hungarian, Greek, Lithuanian, also some British, French, Swiss, Czechoslovak and probably other citizens of the Jewish race. The Italian Government now proposes to expel all such foreigners at the end of the 6-month period on grounds which would seem to us at least unjustifiable.
It occurs to me that possibly you may care to consider the desirability of approaching other interested governments with a view to identic but independent action looking to the mitigation of this wholesale sentence.
While Americans in Italy cannot avail themselves of treaty rights since there is no treaty guaranteeing mutual establishment and residence the United States and Italy are nevertheless continuing their relations with each other generally speaking as formerly except as regards commercial relations which are governed by the new modus vivendi.34
If any action is to be taken along these lines it should be taken before October 1 when it is announced the Grand Council will discuss the entire racial question.
- Not printed.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1937, vol. ii, pp. 494 ff.; for text of modus vivendi of December 16, 1937, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 116, or 51 Stat. 361.↩