THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE  
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
                  TO HIS HOLINESS THE POPE                  
 
                                                            
 
                  Rome, September l, 1944                   
 
                                                            
 
                  Personal and Confidential                 
 
                                                            
 
                    Dear Mr. President:                     
 
                                                            
 
 
 I have very recently had a call from Mr. George Baldanzi,   
Executive Vice President, Textile Workers Union of America, CIO. We   
discussed American Relief for Italy of which he is one of the Trustees.   
Among the statements which he made that I feel I should bring to your   
           personal attention are the following:            
 
                                                            
 
 
 -that there are in the United States about seven and a half   
                 million Italian-Americans;                 
 
                                                            
 
 
-that the rumor has reached America that the Allies upon   
invading Italy immediately depreciated the lire to one cent and at the   
same time have employed common labor in Italy on the basis of seventy-five   
lire  per day whereas under Fascist and Nazi conditions the  
lire had greater value and the daily wage minimum was one hundred   
                  twenty-five lire a day;                   
 
                                                            
 
 
-that the reaction from this condition was unfavorable to the   
present Administration and that the balance of power in voting strength in   
a lies within that group, that is, among the Italian-America
 
                                                            
 
 
-that at the present time sixty-five percent of that vote is   
                    anti-Administration.                    
 
                                                            
 
 
Those are pretty sweeping statements. In the brief time since I saw   
him I have endeavored to check upon the rate of pay and, where my own   
chauffeur engaged by the Army receives seventy-five lire a day, I have   
been told that common labor in the released portions of Italy is paid more   
venty-five lire a day. I shall seek further light upon this 
 
                                                            
 
                       The President,                       
 
                                                            
 
                      The White House,                      
 
                                                            
 
                        Washington.