Memorandum Concerning Missionaries of the Church of Christ in Brownfield, Texas, in Italy

STRUMAN "NATIONAL MISSIONARIES OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ARCHIVES RECORDS AND 62 OF BROWNFIELD, TEXAS, IN ITALY. : SERVICE" A group of twelve missionaries of the Church of Christ of Brownfield, Texas, led by Mr. Cline Paden, went to Italy in January 1949 with the intention of remaining there for an in- definite period. Apparently owing to a misunderstanding between them and Italian Consular officials in this country, they failed to obtain the necessary visas before leaving the United States. They were admitted to Italy as visitors for three months, and proceeded to establish an orphanage at Frascati near Rome, on the basis of oral permission from local authorities. During the late spring and summer of 1949 the group experienced difficulties in obtaining extension of their permission to remain in Italy and official permission tooperate the orphanage; their proselyting was met with physical violence on a number of occassions, con- tinuing through 1949. With the intervention of the American Embassy at Rome, the group's status was adjusted temporarily. When it appeared early in 1950 that the Italian authorities might not renew their permission to remain in Italy, an outcry arose in this country which impelled 76 Senators and 153 Repre- sentatives to communicate with the Department in their behalf. Finally, after vigorous representations by the Ambassador at Rome and by the Department to the Italian Embassy here, the Italian autho- rities granted the missionaries permission to remain in Italy until December 31, 1950. Although no further physical incidents have occurred, the Italian Government notwithstanding the official support of our Embassy for the group's application for an extension of their stay into 1951, delayed their reply until February 14. The fol- lowing day, Mr. McFall met with members of the Texas Delegation in Congress and with Mr. Paden, and was able to inform them that the Italians have granted permission for ten of the group to re- main in Italy until June 30, 1951, but have refused to grant an extension to four other members of the group who arrived in Italy in the Fall of 1950. During the discussions on February 15, Mr. Paden agreed that two of the four should leave Italy promptly. It was also agreed by those present that an effort should be made with the assistance of our Embassy at Rome to obtain an extension of their stay for the other two through June 30, on the basis of assurances given them by the Italian Consul in Los Angeles that they would be considered part of the original group. It was also agreed that efforts should be made through our Embassy at Rome, which has now received appropriate instructions, to obtain permanent re- sidence permits for the group, or failing that, to work out a pro- cedure whereby the group's application for temporary extensions can be made, and acted upon by the Italians, in good time so as to avoid recurrent flaring up of this issue. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) REATRICTED Dept. of State letter, 2-37-24 By NLT. He 8 NARS Date 6-23-76