Many Italians who had already presented bills began dunning the Americans yesterday when they read about the decree, and Americans began to wonder if they would be permitted to leave Italy in the event of an emergency if they were unable to pay their bills.
Although five days have gone by singe American funds were frozen, Italian officials have not taken steps io clarify the situation by issuing rules as to who is and who is not entitled to draw any funds, and if so. how much.
The banks said they could do nothing until they had received instructions, while the Treasury Department charged with drawing up instructions was understood to awaiting a full report from the Ital. jen Embassy in Washington as to the exact functioning of the Americar freezing orders. Some Arhericans thought that the report from Washington must have been sent by slow freighter.
The Press Ministry was understood fo have called the attention of the Ministry of Finance to the "special position" of correspondents, but it is doubtful if their cases will be examined before the long-awaited report arriv:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.