Spyridis/Diamandaras

[Administrator]

The following was posted in the 'Photos of life on Castellorizo' thread - a new thread is provided for ease of reference:

alexispyridis said:

NICK I TOOK YOUR ADVICE AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME
IM STILL LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS ABOUT MY SPYIDIS FAMILY I WISH I DID THIS WHEN MY FATHER WAS AROUND, IT WOULD OF BEEN GREAT TO SHARE THIS WITH SOME ONE THAT I CAN RELATE THIS TO, ALSO IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EASIER TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY PAST FAMILY SPEAK SOON
REGARDS ALEXI

[Administrator]

Dear Alexi,

In reply to your post, I am pleased to report that in my archive there is a
copy of a letter (from Italian archives in Rome) from your great grandfather
Spyros to the Italian authorities in Rome. Click the link below to view.

www.castellorizohistory.com/SpyridesletterMoukden1929.pdf

The letter makes fascinating reading. It was written by him in Moukden
(modern Shenyang, China) on 2 October 1929 in his attempt to gain Italian
citizenship so as to permit him free movement and eventual return to
Castellorizo. He recounts that he was born in 1883, that he travelled first
to Egypt and then to Russia, where he was caught in the Russian Revolution,
and that he eventually ended up in China.

I trust you find this document a useful addition to your knowledge about
your forebears.

Rgds,
Nicholas

[alexispyridis]

Thanks Nick.

I'll need to get it translated, but thanks heaps.

If you come across anything else, please pass on.

Much appreciated.

Alexi

[spyridis]

RE THE SCHOOL PHOTOS I COULD NOT BELIEVE A PICTURE OF MY MY GREAT GREAT GRAND FATHER SPYROS DIAMANDARAS PLEASE ANY MORE OF THESE PHOTOS WOULD BE MORE THEN APPRECIATED THANKS TO THE PERSON THAT POSTED IT THANK YOU

[anvex]

In order to help the forum and allow member Alexispyridis to understand the contents of theletter concerning his ancestor, I translated such letter from Italian language.

Text as flws:

++
Moukden, 2nd October 1929

To Your Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Rome

I, underwritten Spiro Spiridis Diamandara, am respectfully addressing to Your Excellency hoping to get justice and the possibility to come back to my country, as Italian citizen according to my right to be.

Born on 1883 at Castellorizo (Aegean Islands), when I was young I emigrated to Egypt first, to Russia then where I was caught by revolution and from where it was impossible for me to depart.

Just on 1925 I learnt that the Aegean Islands have been annexed to Italy and I speeded up to write to the Royal Ambassador of Italy at Moscow, to whom I sent documents proving my origins on which basis the Royal Embassy provided me with a passport-expulsion order for my repatriation.

As soon as I received such documents, immediately I started pratiques with Soviet Authorities in order to obtain the permissionto leave from Russia.

Only those who are aware of the Bolscevik regime can understand how difficult is to obtain such permission and just on 1928 such Autorithies let me go.

Once I arrived China, I made the necessary steps at the Royal Consulates of Moukden and Tientsin as well as at the Royal Legation at Peking in order that Italian citizenship was confirmed to me by the Government of the Aegean Islands.

After so many demands and many months waiting on the last 7th July the Government of the Aegean Islands replied that my demand of citizenship could not have been taken into consideration for time bar for the presentation of the proper option act.

How can I be kept responsible for having not tendered in propoer course the demand for the Italian citzenship if I was in Russia where press and correspondence were censured rendering impossible whatever communication with the rest of the world ?

All my brothers and sisters, including those which at that time were abroad (but not in Russia) naturalized themselves as Italians as soon as the Aegean Islands have been annexed to Italy; and as a matter of fact all my family is Italian nowadays.

Should I have been free I'll have done the same, as I actually did as soon as the voice of the annexion arrived to me whil I was at the Russian hell.

Presently, I'm now here in the Far East, without any possibilities to return to Castellorizo because I am without passport and without any possibility to work honestly without documents.

Hoping in the Fascist justice, once again I pray with humility Your Excellency in order to obtain the grace to be naturalized as Italian and to come back and see again my country and my family.

Hereto attached please find copies of my correspondence with several Italian Authorities along with a born certificate of mine.

Devotely and respectfully of Your Excellence
Spiro Spiridis Diamandaras
Care of the Royal Consulate of Italy
Moukden

[alexispyridis]

Thank you so so much anvex