Evening star., 1941-06-21
By GARNETT d. HORNER.

The United States today or
dered closing of all Italian Con-
sulates and other agencies OF the
Italian government in this
country and removal of all their
Italian employees from American
territory by July IS.
The action obviously was in re-
prisal for Italian orders closing
American consulates in Italy, issued
in conjunction with similar orders
by Germany following this Govern
ment's demand Monday for closing
of German consulates and three
Nazi propaganda agencies in this
country
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles made public note to the
italian Ambassador here declaring
that continued functioning of 1tal-
ian consuls in the United States
would serve no desirable purpose. "
At the same time, Mr.. Welles an
nounced that the text of President
Roosevelt's special message to Con-
greSs yesterday, which branded the
sinking of the American freighter
Robin Moor by a German subma-
rine as an act of piracy and de-
manded full reparation, has been
formally transmitted to the Ger
man government through its En-
bassy here.
Bill to Be Submitted Later.
A bill for the damages suffered
by American citizens in the Robin
Moor sinking will be submitted to
Germany later, Mr. Welles said.
Mr.. Wells did not specify the
italian agencies involved in todays
closing order. in addition to the
consular establishments, but said
they included all organizations
registered with the State Depart
ment as agencies of the Italian
government.
At least los italians are affected
including 33 consular officers, 81
consular employees and Is miscel-
laneous employees. The status of 81
other officers and employees listed as
Italian Americans, Americans or of
other nationality was not deter
mined except, of course. that those
able to establish United States
citizenship will not be affected by
the removal order
The order, latest in a series of
steps which have brought this coun-
try to point just short of a COM
plete break in diplomatic relations
with Germany and Italy, does not
involve the Italian Embassy in
Washington and its duly accredited
Diplomatic personnel.
Registered Italian organizations
affected by the closure and removal
order, State Department officials
said, include the Italian Library of
Information. Italian Tourist In
formation Office, Italian National
Institute of Exchange, Italian
Tobacco Monopoly. Italian Com
mission to the New York World S
Fair, Italcable. Custodian of Leo
nardo da Vinci Exposition and Office
of the Commercial Counselor in
New York.
Text of Welles' Note.
The text OF the note from Mr..
Welles to Don Ascanio del Principi
Colonna, the Italian Ambassador
here, follows:
Il have the honor to inform your
excellency that the President has
directed me to request that the
italian government promptly close
all Italian consular establishments
within United States territory and
remove therefrom all Italian con-
sular officers, agents, clerks and en-
ployes of Italian nationality. In the
opinion of the Government of the
United States it is obvious that the
continued functioning of Italian con-
sular establishments in territory of
the United States would serve no
desirable purpose.
"I am likewise directed to request
the closing of all agencies in this