State Supreme Court Justice Salvatore A. Cotillo, holder of the decoration Knight Commander of the Crown of Italy received from Premier Benito Mussolini and one of the most important Italo-American political leaders, has cabled the Italian Premier urging him to postpone execution of Friday’s racial decree until he can go to Rome and plead with the Duce for modification of its terms.
Acting After he had been approached by a committee of prominent Jews, Justice Cotillo sent the message, which said that there was serious talk of boycotting Italy in New York City. He said he was actuated by the purpose of keeping unimpaired the friendly contacts between Italians and Jews in America.
“I am sure when all the facts are presented before you, Your Excellency would modify the strong terms of the new edict,” the cable said. It added: “I would respectfully suggest exploration for further channels permitting friendliest intercourse, material and spiritual, to continue. Tolerance heretofore displayed by you has achieved wonderful results.”
A resolution condemning italian anti-Semitic acts will be introduced next month at the convention of the American sons of Italy, one of the largest Italo-American fraternal organizations, it was announced by Philip Bongiorno, former president of the organization, who holds an Italian Government decoration for war service. “Italians as well as Americans of Italian extraction in America are overwhelmingly not in sympathy with the anti-Semitic movement and measures in Italy and are thoroughly ashamed of them,” Mr. Borgiano said in a statement.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
