Montana labor news., 1945-04-19
ITALIAN UNIOMSTS
ASK RECOGNITION
OF ITALY AS ALLY

WASHINGTON - FP)-Representa-
tives of hundreds Of italian labor and
fraternal organizations moved into
Washington April IL to hear a group Of
their leaders testify before the House
foreign affairs committee on behalf Of
the Marcantonio resolution requesting
recognition of Italy as an ally.
Heading up the delegation was Pres.
Joseph Catalonotti Of the Free Italy
American Tabor Council and sec. George
Baldanzi. Catalonotti is a vice president
Of the A~malgamated Clothing Workers
(CIO) and Baldanzi is executive vice
president Of the Textile Workers Union
(CIO).
Representatives from italian labor
groups in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Rochester, Newark, Jersey
City and Boston were in attendance.
along with New York Commissioner Of
Labor Edward Corsi, and Judge Frances
Giaccone, representing the grand lodge,
order of the Sons Of italy.
Baldanzi told the committee that the
Free Italy American Labor Council rep
resented some 100000 American trade
unionists of Italian origin who work in
the clothing. fur, electrical, textile, fur
niture and other mass production in
dustries." He also said it included many
AFL locals, and some rank and file
leaders Of the Init. Ladies Garment
Workers CAFLl.
Referring to his 6-week trip to Italy
last fan with Luigi Antonini Of the
HGWU. Baldanz said they covered all
of liberated Italy and everywhere we
Travelled we were most enthusiastically
received by the italian people. who re-
garded us as friends and allies in a
common cause against a common enemy
-fascism. The Things we saw and
heard fully justified our conviction that
the italian people have never accepted
fascism.
1--WE the Free Italy American Labor
Council feel that Italy's present status
as a co-beligerent is unfair to the
italian people and a deterrent to that
country's full participation i'm the
struggle against the common enemy.
ut was the Italian people who dealt
the Axis powers their first fatal blows
when they overthrow the Mussolini re-
gime and paved the way for the inva-
sion of the European c%ontinent.' They
repudiated Hitler and the Axis pact at
the first signal of allied support. Rather
than serve the Nazi cause. italian sol
diers laid down their arms at the first
sight Of the American flag in Sicily.
They declared war on Germany and to
this day are fighting against the enemy
with an the limited resources at their
command
Baldanzi recalled that in Nazi-occu-
pied Italy partisans are risking their
lives daily in hampering the movements
Of Hitler's troops and in so doing are
saving American lives.
Recognition of Italy as a full ally he
said, will mean that we actively sup
port and encourage democracy and its
institutions throughout the world, and
that onc a people has demonstrated its
devotion to the democratic cause we are
ready to welcome them into full partner
ship.
II we do not permit people who have
shown their desire to atone for their
errors and to contribute to the demo-
cratic cause, to participate fully with us,
then we are sending them back into the
arms of those from whom we came to
nberate them"
Baldanzi concluded his appeal by
pointing out that we have recognized the
fascist government Of Argentina as an
ally, and said 1T is time to stop coddling
fascist governments such as Spain and
Argentina. Argentina entered the war
on our side for Opportunistic reason, not
from any proven demonstration of de-
votion to the democratic ideal It is
time to open the door to people who for
two long years have demonstrated their
unfaltering devotion to the common
cause for which we fight