Doc. No. 3 (P).
Memorandum on the Clauses of the Draft Peace Treaty Concerning the Dodecanese (Art. 12 and 13)
Articles 12 and 13
Article 12 provides for the cession to Greece in full sovereignty of the Italian islands in the Aegean Sea, but makes no mention of the Italian nationals who live there. Their fate would, therefore, seem to be decided on the basis of the general provisions of Article 13, in accordance with which Italian nationals domiciled in any territory ceded by Italy will become nationals of the State to which the territory in question is ceded, unless within a period of one year they opt for Italian nationality. In the latter event, the State which has acquired the territory may compel persons who have exercised their right of option to transfer their domicile to Italy within one year.
Italy considers that it would be particularly unjust to apply this treatment to the Italian community of the Dodecanese which, by its efforts, has contributed so much to the prosperity of these Islands.
The work done by Italy in Rhodes has been demonstrated in a publication distributed to all delegations. It describes in detail the great strides made in economic activities, capital investments in public works, public welfare, agriculture, the tourist industry, etc. thanks to Italians. The whole world is aware of the contribution made by Italian archaeologists in the Dodecanese to world culture by their excavations and their publications. All this proves that the Italian Government as well as the Italian community, far from dreaming of selfish exploitation, have only had in mind the welfare of the local inhabitants.
Democratic Italy, which condemns and deplores the aggression committed against Greece, is convinced that the cession of the Aegean islands of which she has long been an advocate, will promote the re-establishment of cordial co-operation between the two countries. It is in this spirit that she asks that the Italians, to whom the prosperity of the Dodecanese is so largely due, should not be deprived of the right of continued residence and, consequently, of the property, rights and interests which they have hitherto enjoyed as the results of their labours; that they should be allowed to continue to make use of their [Page 140] cultural institutions, to practice their religion, etc. freely, and, finally, to continue their professional and economic activities.