865.4016/129: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—8:45 a.m.]
392. Department’s telegrams 122, December 3, 5 p.m., and 125, December 10, 3 p.m.; and Embassy’s telegrams 359, December 5, 5 p.m., and 367, December 9, 5 p.m.
As I interpret the Department’s instructions received during my absence it is not desired that I act responsively to Ciano’s request that I take up with him personally the status of American Jews in Italy and to his intimation of willingness to do what he can to facilitate [Page 606] matters in such individual cases as I might present to him, see my 327, November 9, 5 p.m. Consequently I assume that in reply to requests from American Jewish citizens that the Embassy endeavor to obtain special exemption from application of the Italian racial measures I should inform them that they must fend for themselves but that the Embassy will protest any positive act discriminating against them on racial grounds. Please confirm. The Department, of course, realizes the difficulty in obtaining redress in individual cases after discriminatory action has been taken.