Notes
1. Though
it is not strictly relevant to the origins of the Society it may be worth
mentioning that I invited the Italian broadcasters to join me in writing a book
which was published as a Penguin Special with official approval in an English
version entitled The Remaking of Italy, by Pentad, and an Italian
version, LItalia di domani, by Pentacle. The names of the authors
naturally could not be given at the time, but it may now be stated that
Alessandro Magri wrote the historical chapter, "The Making of Italy",
Lorenzo Minio-Paluello that on "The Germans and Italy", I wrote
"The English and Italy", Ruggero Orlando "The Black Death of
Fascism", and Pier Paolo Fano looked to the future in "Italy after
Fascism". At least 125,000 copies of the two editions were printed. The
date of publication was September 1941.
2. Purely Italian as regards membership, though several English persons had close
contacts with it, particularly the Sprigges and Sylvia Pankhurst.
3. There was a London Section of the Italian Socialist Party at the time. I have a diary
note of speaking on 21st March 1942 along with Camille Huysmans,
Louis Levy, Lord Wedgwood and Victor Schiff at a meeting it organized to
commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Filippo Turati.
4. Foà and Magri appear to have been the only persons to have served – at different
times – on the Executive Committees of both bodies.
5. Owned by the anti-Fascist Giandolini, who was also known by the English name Abel
that he adopted. This was a favourite meeting place of Italians and British
opposed to the Fascist regime. It was in particular the favourite restaurant of
Aneurin Bevan who, despite his leftward stance, prided himself on his knowledge
of food and wine.
6. The Group expired with the General Election of 1945, when I entered the Government
and could no longer take part in foreign affairs save for negotiating civil
aviation agreements. I have a diary note that on 11th November 1947
(soon after I left the Government) I convened a meeting in a committee room of
the House of Commons at which it was decided to re-form the Anglo-Italian
Parliamentary Group. Harold Macmillan presided over the meeting, and Charles
Mott-Radclyffe and I were elected joint honorary secretaries.