Ratify the Italo-American Debt Agreement! - An open letter to U.S. Senator Copeland - By Luigi Criscuolo

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

An open letter by Luigi Criscuolo urging rapid Senate ratification of the Italo-American War Debt Agreement. The text explains the agreement’s signing timeline, the procedural status in the U.S. Senate, and the political context surrounding Democratic opposition. It argues for ratification on practical grounds, emphasizing longstanding friendship, Italy’s wartime alliance, Italian contributions to American development, and the importance of maintaining stable commercial and business interests at home and abroad.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Arguments for immediate ratification

Friendship, wartime alliance, and practical considerations

Italy’s contribution of manpower and commerce

97-84097-9Criscuolo,Luigi Ratify the Italo-Americandebt agreement!New York 1926 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION # BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia Unlversity Lbraries. ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA BEDUCTION BATIO: 9:/MAGE PLACEMENT:IAA IB DATE FILMED: 5/3197 INITIALS: TLM TBACKING\#: 23420 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. RDA Ratify the Italo-AmericanDebt Agreement! An open letter to U.S.Senator Royal S.Copeland BYLUIGI CRISCUOLO NEW YORK February,1926 及x19 # 车云R.s 2-9·26 ## Introduction The Italo-American Debt Agreement was signed bySecretary Mellon and Count Volpi on November I4,I925,and on January I5,I926,the agreement was ratified by theHouse of Representatives.It now is before the UnitedStates Senate for consideration and it is understood thatthere may be considerable opposition to its ratification,par-ticularly from Democratic Senators The writer is not actively interested in local politics,butis fully aware of the fact that politics are not absent fromprivate discussions when matters of this sort are considered.The debt question was decided on its merits by the AmericanDebt Commission and was approved by President Coolidge.Naturally,it refects credit upon the Republican Party andin national politics will gain a great many votes for thatParty among American voters who are of Italian birth orextraction,whether it is ratified by the Senate or not. As the ratification of the Debt Agreement is apparentlybeing made a political issue by Democratic Senators atWashington,it may not be amiss to remind those Senatorsthat while in national politics the Italian element is todaystrongly Republican,the local Democratic organizations incenters like New York City draw a great many of their votesfrom the Italian element.If the Democratic Senators atWashington wish to weaken the local Democratic organiza-tions,all they have to do is to oppose the ratification of thisDebt Agreement in the Senate when it comes up for ahearing. Apart from any political considerations the exercise ofordinary business sense,which seems to dictate the approvalof these agreements by the Senate,particularly as the prin-cipal business organizations of the country have urged theirratification,it is hoped that the Senate will not take anyaction that would be prejudicial to American business in-terests both at home andabroad. L.C. New York,February 2,1926 Ratify the Italo-American Debt Agreement! An open letter to U.S.Senator Copeland My DEAR MR.SENATOR: In the course of the next few days,there will be pre-sented for the consideration of the Senate the War DebtAgreement entered into on November I4,I925,between theDebt Commissions of the United States of America and theKingdom of Italy.For many years I have been interestedin the maintenance of friendly relations between these twocountries and have particularly followed the development oftheir financial and commercial relations.While naturallysympathetic towards Italy,I have urged that moderateterms be extended to all of our Allies with reference to thewar loans and in February of last year I had the pleasureof addressing an open letter on the subject to SecretaryMellon and Senator Borah jointly.The views expressed inthat letter met with considerable approval with the Pressand the public at large. As the discussion on the question continued during thefrst half of the past year,I urged that Italy place herselfsquarely on record as being willing to pay her just debtsand found indirect means of placing my views before in-fluential persons in Italy.In July I recommended urgentlythat Italy make a definite statement of her willingness topay her just debt

FAQs

Who does the letter address and what action does it request?

The letter addresses U.S. Senator Copeland and requests that the Senate ratify the Italo-American Debt Agreement promptly.

What is the background of the debt agreement mentioned in the letter?

The letter states that the War Debt Agreement was entered into in November 1925, signed by representatives of the two governments and the President, and is now before the U.S. Senate for consideration.

What main reasons are given for ratification?

The letter emphasizes practical, non-sentimental reasons: friendship and wartime alliance between the countries, Italy’s long-term contribution of manpower to America, and the broader importance of business and commercial interests.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria