Relations With Italy Resolution To Welcome the People of Italy Into the Family of Liberated Nations Establishment of Diplomatic Relations With Italy Invitation to Italy To Be a Signatory to the U.N. Agreement (355) INTRODUCTION. CONTENTS HEARINGS AND WITNESSES Page 359 RESOLUTION TO WELCOME THE PEOPLE OF ITALY INTO THE FAMILY OF 367 October 19, 1943: Hon. Louis Ludlow, a Representative in Congress from the State 368 ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ITALY (H.J. RES. 274, 78TH CONGRESS). 383 June 13, 1944: Hon. Vito Marcantonio, a Representative in Congress from the 383 Hon. James M. Curley, a Representative in Congress from the 385 Rocco Francheschini, executive member of Free Italy American 387 Ernest Demaio, general vice president, United Electrical, Radio 387 Pietro Lucchi, secretary-treasurer, International Fur & Leather 388 Hon. Robert Molinari, assemblyman, Legislature of the State of 389 Hon. Hamblet O. Catenaccio, assemblyman, Legislature of the 391 INVITATION TO ITALY TO BE A SIGNATORY TO THE U.N. AGREEMENT (H.J. 393 July 10, 1945: Hon. Vito Marcantonio, a Representative in Congress from the 394 Hon. Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional 396 APPENDIX I. Text of House Joint Resolution 274, 78th Congress, 2d session, requesting the President to establish friendly diplomatic relations with Italy.. II. Report on House Joint Resolution 204 71-567-76-24 (357) 401 402 Relations With Italy 23 INTRODUCTION From the surrender of Italy in September of 1943 to the end of the war, American policy was complicated by the fact that Italy's position was unique in a number of ways. Italy was the first case in which the Allies were forced to move beyond the rather general statements concerning war aims contained in the Atlantic Charter and to formulate a concrete set of guidelines for the administration of a conquered nation. Since Italy was the first Axis nation to surrender, most diplomats realized that the policies adopted could set precedents for the administration of other areas of Europe. As a result of these factors, the Italian situation was marked by competition among the British, Americans, and Russians for control of the administration of Italy. Within the United States, the large number of ItalianAmerican voters, their strategic importance to the Democratic Party, and the public positions taken by Italian organizations made these diplomatic problems a major factor in American politics. The political salience of these issues was reinforced by the overthrow of Mussolini in July of 1943 and the consequent inclusion of non-Fascist political parties in the government-developments which removed much of the stigma of cooperating with Nazi Germany. As such, the resolutions on Italy and the congressional hearings performed a dual function. First, the Congressmen were trying to perform their traditional duty of influencing or supporting existing policies. Second, Congressmen of Italian extraction or with large numbers of Italian constituents used the hearings to |