Evening star., 1938-10-04
BRANCH Of DUCE'S
DREAD OVRA HELD
OPERATING IN US.
Anti.Fascist Tells Probers
It Obviously Is Instructed
by Embassy.
CONSULAR OFFICIALS
SPREAD PROPAGANDA
Names of Four Known Agents
Of Secret Police Given to
Dies Committee.

OhShohoCNL-
Authorized by the last Congress,
q House subcommittee headed bv
Representative Dies, Democrat, of
Teras. for more than t,Do months
has been airing charges OF un-
American activities carried on bv
foreign elements. The pro-Nazi
Gerndn-American Bund has been
portrayed as principal in the
operations barred by the subcom-
nittee.
BY tie Associated Press.
An Italian anti-Fascist told a con.
gressional committee today that 4
branch of Premier Mussolini's secret
police was operating in this country,
obviously under instructions of the
Italian Ambassador at Washington"
Girolano Valenti, chairman of the
Italian Anti-Fascst Committee. de-
clared also that italian consular Off
cials and secret Fascist agents are
spreading Fascist propaganda through
out the ranks of some 200 Italian
American organizations IN the United
States"
The secret police-Ovra-are "di-
rectly linked to the Italian consular
service" in this country, the witness
testified in connecting the police or
ganization also with the Washington
Embassy.
The anti-Fascist leader, a slight,
dark-haired New Yorker with a de.
cided accent, gave his testimony to
the Dies House Committee on un.
American Activities.
Threats Being Used.
He said threats and other devices
were used to bring pressure on Ameri-
can-1talians to gain information about
them or to make them conform to
Fascist ideas.
Mr.. Valenti suggested that persons
who he said "have been victims" Of
the Ovra could be called before the
committee for testimony provided
their appearances were kept secret
"inasmuch as they fear reprisals
against their relatives still living in
Italy"
He also proposed that the Justice
Department investigate this type Of
manhandling by foreign agencies" and
said he would be willing to supply the
department with names of victims.
-Four known agents of the Ora
who are operating in this country" Mr..
Valenti said, "are the following;
Capt Carlo Vinti, New York City:
Pietro Pupino Carbonelli, New York
City; Count Fachetti Giuglia, New
York City; Ubaldo Guioi, Boston"
Youth Movement Revealed.
Mr.. valenti told the committee that
"one of the most important fields" Of
Fascist activities is in the youth move
ment which. he said, lis centered
around the Dante Aligherie Society,"
with headquarters in the same build
ing in which the Italian Consul Of
New York has offices, Rockefeller
Center"
Director of the movement, he said,
is Prof. Mario Giani He declared
also that the Fascists make use Of
numerous publications, radio sta
tions. schools, churches" and the thea
ter to distribute propaganda.
The Ovra in America, Mr.. Valenti
asserted, was branch of a police Or
ganization operating in the mother
country.
This" he said, Is a spy organiza-
tion which calls at the homes of
American citizens of Italian descent
and attempts to frighten them when
ever they have participated in activi-
ties which do not conform to Fascist
government policy"
Addressed by Officials.
Mr.. Valenti asserted that Italian
Consular officials are addressing scores
of semi-pubhc gatherings and closed
meetings in which they deliver speeches
Of pure Fascist propaganda, seeking to
undermine the democratic form CT
government"
THE participation of Italian Con-
Suls Is matter OF common knowledge
among the American Italians" the
witness said. Among those who have
repeatedly taken part in Fascist af-
fairs in their respective areas are the
following:
Consul General Vecchiotti, New
York City.
Consul General Segre, Boston.
Consul General P. Peravan, Phil.
adelphia, Pa.
Counsel P. Decicco, New Haven.
Conn.
Consul Yannelli, Johnstown, Pa"
Aim To Keep Alive" Tie.
Mr.. Valenti declared the aim was to
keep alive" the tie between Italians
who have become American citizens
and their former ruler"
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