811.04418/119
Memorandum by the Chief of the Office of Arms and Munitions Control (Green)
Marquis Rossi Longhi, Counselor of the Italian Embassy, called at my office yesteday. He said that he had come under instructions from his Ambassador to obtain information as to the proper interpretation of the provisions in regard to passports contained in the Pittman-McReynolds and the Nye-Clark Neutrality Bills. He handed me the attached sheet10 setting forth the questions on which the Ambassador desired enlightenment.
Rossi Longhi said that this was a matter of great practical interest to the Italian Government. He said that apparently the effect of the provision of the Nye-Clark Bill if it were enacted would be to expose any American citizen who travelled on an Italian vessel to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years or both. This, he assumed, would effectively prevent American citizens from travelling on Italian vessels.
I replied that I concurred in his interpretation of the language in question and that the effect of the enactment of such a provision would [Page 174] undoubtedly be to keep American citizens from travelling on Italian vessels, if Italy were still at war upon the passage of the bill. Rossi Longhi said that a large Italian liner was due to arrive in New York early in March to begin a cruise of the West Indies. He said that the liner was pretty well booked up with American citizens and that the proposed voyage would have to be cancelled if such a provision were enacted into law.
I told Rossi Longhi that I felt that I should consult other officers of the Department before attempting to answer his questions in regard to the provision concerning passports in the Pittman-McReynolds Bill.
Rossi Longhi arranged to call on me again today.
In the meantime I consulted Judge Moore11 and Mr. Hackworth12 and when Rossi Longhi called, I told him that the effect of the language in the Pittman-McReynolds Bill was merely to re-enforce the “own risk” clause which preceded it, and that a citizen carrying a passport which was not valid for travel on a belligerent vessel would not while a passenger on such a vessel be entitled to the protection to which a valid passport would entitle him.
Rossi Longhi remarked that although the provision carried no definite penalty, it would probably act as a deterrent to such an extent as to keep American citizens from travelling on belligerent vessels.
Before leaving Rossi Longhi set forth at some length his opinion that the application of any restrictions upon travel by American citizens on Italian vessels in the present circumstances was both illogical and unjust.