Office of the Historian

865.00/3–1848: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy

confidential
Washington, March 24, 1948—3 p. m.

812. In reply to journalist who pointed out that certain elements of Ital press were saying a person who voted Communist could still immigrate US,1 official Justice Dept called attention to Congressional law passed October 19242 which specifically denies entry into US of anyone advocating overthrow of US Govt by force (urtel 1207, Mar 18).3 This has habitually been invoked in cases members Communist party, and there shd be no doubt left minds Itals that policy this regard unchanged.

Marshall
  1. In telegram 1113 of March 13, not printed, Dunn reported a shift of concentration of effort by the Communists to central, southern and insular Italy, regions of poverty where the dream was to migrate to the New World. He urged a statement that no visas would be issued to persons espousing the Communist cause. (865.00B/3–1348)↩
  2. Departmental telegram 886, March 30, not printed, corrected the reference “to Act of Congress approved October 16, 1918, as amended by the acts approved June 5, 1920, and June 28, 1940” (865.00/3–1848).↩
  3. In this telegram, not printed, Dunn asked to receive promptly the exact text of the statement reportedly issued by the Department of Justice on the exclusion from the U.S. of Italian Communists (865.00/3–1848).↩