Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

701.6510/56: Telegram

The Chargé in Italy (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State

Rome, March 4, 1942.
[Received March 5—1:14 p.m.]

75. Your 63, 2d.³⁹ Competent official informed Minister de Stoutz⁴⁰ and me this morning that, although Foreign Ministry had not yet received through official channels text of Department’s message of February 25 to Bern, substance of Ministry’s reply, preliminary draft of which had already been prepared, could be communicated to us officieusement. It will:

(1) Express appreciation of Department’s attitude and reiterate desire to effect exchange on basis of complete reciprocity;

(2) State that any American (unless under penal process) in Italy or Italian occupied territory desiring repatriation aboard exchange vessel will be transported to Lisbon at Italian Government expense (see also my 76 and 77, 4th⁴¹);

(3) Formally request that 121 Italians on Prince Colonna’s latest list and any others added thereto be embarked on exchange vessel, together with such others (within proffered limit of 250) in Central American Republics as may when informed of this facility for repatriation express desire to avail themselves thereof and be able to join the vessel before its scheduled date of departure;

(4) Request promptest possible communication of name, characteristics and course of exchange vessel (see also my 78, 4th³⁹);

(5) Assume that the Italian officials in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru will be repatriated en bloc from Buenos Aires; request assurance that United States and its allies will furnish them any limited number of accompanying nationals appropriate safeguards to European port; and, if such assurance be given, authorize repatriation aboard exchange vessel of officials of those three countries in Italy (see also my 79, 4th³⁹);

(6) Give all presently possible assurances regarding Buckley⁴² (see my 80, 4th³⁹); and

(7) Reiterate its position regarding Father Woolf⁴³ (see my 81, 4th³⁹).

Ministry would appreciate Department’s informing Prince Colonna of substance of this telegram.

Wadsworth

39. Not printed.
40. Swiss Minister in Italy.
41. Neither printed.
39. Not printed.
39. Not printed.
42. Maj. Michael Buckley, Jr., American military observer taken prisoner in Libya by the Italians.
39. Not printed.
43. Rev. H. Gruber Woolf, rector of St. Paul’s American Church in Rome, arrested and imprisoned by the Italians.
39. Not printed.