Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-10
Italian People Viewed
As Prisoners of Nuzis
Writer Advocates Policy
Of Liberation for
occupied Territory

To the Editor Of The Star:
In October, 1912, there occurred an
important revision of American foreign
policy relative to Italy, meriting exami-
nation because of significant implica-
tons to be derived therefrom
On Columbus Day, october u, Attor-
ney General Biddle referring to Italian
aliens in the United States, said: For
a long time I have known what their
loyalties are. When war broke out 10
months ago, and they were declared
alien enemies, knew time would tell
the story of these loyalties better than
any words of mine, any assurances or
predictions could make. y There was
no doubt in my mind that, with a very
few exceptions, these 100000 Italian allen
enemies were not enemies at all" And
then he announced: Beginning October
10, italian aliens will no longer be
classed as alien enemies. From that
time on the exoneration which they have
so we'll earned will be granted them"
This date, october 10, marks definite
turning point in the status of Italian
born aliens resident in the United States.
From that date onward Italian aliens,
with very few exceptions, have been
treated the same as aliens of French.
Dutch and other friendly nationalities
who have sought safety within the terri
tories of the United States; from that
date Italy came to be regarded in official
quarters as an occupied territory"
rather than as an enemy country"
On November IA, moreover, the new
status of Italy as one of the occupied
territories" to be liberated was further
clarified by Assistant Secretary of State
A. A. Berle Armies under the Ameri-
can flag are armies for the liberation
of Italy and victory for the United
Nations he said, will mean for Italy
enjoyment with all other states of &C
cess on equal terms to the trade and
raw materials of the world which are
needed for prosperity; opportunity to
collaborate in securing for all improved
labor standards, economic advancement
and social security; opportunity to work
for the detectives to which free nations
Of the world are pledged"
The present writer's letter published
III The Star on November 10 emphasized
the fact that whether the men who I'M
dertake the setting up of military gov
eminent in occupied areas inspire hope
and trust or fear and doubt will depend
upon the quality of the technical and
psychological preparation of the leaders
This matter was developed further in
his letters of December Is and January 2,
wherein stress was placed upon the i'm
portance OF giving assurance to the Ital-
ian people that the United Nations stand
ready with the necessities of life to keep
body and soul together, and also desire
to fit their work of relief into the basic
ethnic character structure of the Italian
individual and the ethnic culture pat
tern Of the Italian people.
What are the practical implications
of the revision of American foreign policy
relative to Italy, as enunciated by At
torney General Biddle and Assistant
Secretary of State Berle? The implica-
tons are that Italy now is considered
as occupied" by revolutionary totali-
tartan government which is not fulfilling
the conditions Of its legitimacy-majo rity
rule, the right of opposition, freedom of
suffrage, and freedom of press; by a
government which, in the words of Fer
zero, "unconsciously and involuntarily
becomes revolutionary by allowing itself
to be dominated by violent minorities"
Today in occupied" Italy the major task
for the military forces of the United
Nations is not the conquering of an
enemy people, but rather the liberation
of a friendly people.
Every plan, every word and every deed
should stem from this juridical concept
of releasing a prisoner from unrighteous
bondage rather then of prosecuting an
enemy who has transgressed interna-
tional law. With the Italian people CAS-
distinct from the Fascist government
from the outset there has never been
any desire to transgress international
law. But, as Egon Ranshofen- Wer-
theimer points out in his book Victory
Is Not Enough: by cynically disregard
ing all written and unwritten rules, he
(Hitler) has blotted out the meaning Of
international law in the minds and
hearts of millions. How can those
who have never known a world gov
erned by trust in treaties and belief in
solemn covenants be prevented from be-
ing victimized by an theology of unre-
strained force? How can those whose
picture of the world had been shaped
prior to Hitlers attack be prevented
from falling prey to cynicism and
despair"
In Germany, rigorous military occu-
patton will be necessary. But the italian
phase of policing the Axis will be con-
cerned primarily with liberating the
country from the German regime of
unrestrained force and with restoring
order in both central and local govern
ment. The Italian phase may resolve
itself into merely the occupation Of linz
tied zones, of strategic points or areas;
and even SO, certainly the occupying
forces will be welcomed by large sec
ton of the population as the best means
for the restoration of a state of order
and for the distribution of needed food,
fuel and medical relief
But a larger task than active military
occupation of Italy calls for decisive &C
ton now The new line of American
political policy toward italy as an "occll-