The New York herald., 1877-07-10
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.

THE CASE OF LARGO MEssINA-wHAr THE ITALr
Ian CONSUL SAYS ABOUT Ir-A CHANCE ron
SECRETARY EvARTs TO SHOW HIS HAND
HERALD reporter had q brief interview with the
Italian Consul New York yesterday concerning tho
case OF Largo Mcssina Tho latter 1t will he
bered this country from Italy with his parents
when two years old. Whom oil ago he became an
American citizen, rcnouncing all allegiance TO foreign
Powers, princes aad potentstes Recently he visited
Europe, and on his arrival in Italy was promptly
forced into the military service, whore he Is now held
In answer to tho HERALD reporters squries
ing the case tho Consul sad--
There is treaty the subject Of citizenship
between the two countries. italy holds that ths
children Of Italian parents born Italian soil cannot
renounce allegiance to their native land She rc
quircs too, from each aud every one Of her male sub
Jccts physically ncapacitated, cc-ain period OF
military service. Her military force is composed Of
two grades-the regular army ana the militia land
wchr There is a regular drai, from time time and
Italian subjects must in or tho other grade,
according to the number drawn. The members
OF the second grade required 10 drill only forty
days u year When any subject who has been away
from the country returns after attaining hts majority,
as in The Messna he Is arrested deserter.
II his term OF service Is then made longer than 1--WE
ocars as rs said to be tho this instance. IL Is
"
recognize cit zenship IN any other country as
excuse by which military duties may be evaded. Ameri-
ciLi1enship be 10 excuse at present, there uc
ing no treaty however desirable IL s that thcre should
bc one
For the information Of the Consul IL may be stated
that IN the treaty OF commerce and navigation be-
the Uai,cd states OF America and tho Kingdom
OF Italy," signed February &C. 1871, ratified November
Is and proclaimed November 23 Of the same year
there occurs the following scctien In article 81
''The citizens OF each oil the high contracting parties
shalt receive la the states OF other
ne mo
.Tncy snail, however, be exempt in their respective
territories from compulsory military service either on
land III the regular forces, or In tho national
guard, or III he mlitia'
WHAT ITALIAN AMERICANS THINK OF 1T.
Tho matter was discussed considerably yesterday
among tue Italians VINO are citizens OF this country. IL
an understanding, both for the sake OF Messina aud
for those OF his standing who may IN future
return 10 their native land. The IMPRESSION
ernmcnt will argue tho matter before the
laiian authorities, ana by an nmicabe process
reach o well defined precedent Tor iuturo guidance.
The nature Of such approaching correspondence be-
the two governments may doubtless bc inferred
In some degree from The alteration which took place
between United States end Austria relation
the case OF Martin Kosxta Tho latter Hungarian
who had taken part In civil war and fed 10 Turkey,
where he WINS arrested and afterwards released
promise TO leave that territory. He then to the
United states. acquired residence. and made dec
ardtion preparatory TO aturazatiOn but he had not
been made u citizen He won't to smyrna tor
porarv commercal purposes, under the pro-
tecion oi the Unitea States Consul, and tner
Charge dc Afalrcs at Constau,nopIe, by whum
he was furnished with passport lie was
scizod ny The Austrian officials and confined
on board q vessel. Tne commander OF United
stass vessel demanded Kosztas release, and pro-
pairing to open lire the Austrian vessel, whom by
tual consent Koszta placed under tho protection
Of the French Governor General await tho action OF
tho governments concerned. In the bscquent cor
rcspvndencc tho United States claimed tho right to
lievc a domicied subject although not naturatz.d,
rom arrest made IN tho territory q" ir,cudiy State.
where he temporarily sojournng for busI.
ucss purposes, by the agents oi any oihcr State,
although that OF his birth, AMI the arrest was In
laton Of the sovereignty OF the State within which
made and that State could not would not,
release the prisoner, the United States would do
BY force within that territory A. all evort the vio-
lation OF territorial sovereignty nv forcbls release
was not one which the arrcsnng government ceuld
make against the United Statcs
Mcssina's case, viewed IN the light Of this cor
respondcncc would appear distinct than that OF
Koszta. The latter was not naiurazcd, while tho
former has bcen for years citizen and Is fortified
with his papers OF citIxonshin