Office of the Historian

865.4016/157: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State

Rome, March 15, 1939—6 p.m.
[Received March 15—1:45 p.m.]

89. This afternoon’s papers carry an announcement regarding foreign Jews in Italy as follows:

“The 12th instant marked the expiration of the period established by Article 24 of the law relating to the defense of the race for the departure from the Kingdom of foreign Jews who initiated their sojourn in Italy after January 1, 1919.51 Before this date many foreign Jews left the Kingdom of their own accord; the others with the exception of those authorized to remain under the provisions of Article 25 will gradually leave the Kingdom within the next few days. It is presumed therefore that with the exception of special cases for reasons of health or family conditions all foreign Jews residing in Italy subsequent to January 1, 1919, will leave the Kingdom within a brief period.”

I am seeking an explanation of the apparent divergence between this announcement and the previous information received from Ciano, see my 83, March 10, 7 p.m.

Phillips
  1. Royal Decree-Law No. 1728 of November 17, 1938; Gazzetta Ufficiale Del Regno D’Italia, November 19, 1938, p. 4794.↩