Louis (Luigi)
Biamonte

Mike Biollo

Father Giovanni
Bonelli

Camillo Bridarolli

Mr. & Mrs. Henry
Butti

John Camarta

Domenico Chiarello

Joe Fabbri

Mario Grassi

Victor Losa

Filomena Michetti

Mrs. Mamie Meardi

Tony Nimis

Giorgio W. &
Norma Pocaterra

Mr. & Mrs. John
Segatti

Romano Tedesco &
Mrs. Irma Giacobbo

Angelo Toppano

Mr. R:

How about, say, the Italians in relation to the local authorities. I mean, how were the Italians treated?

Mr. L:

Very good, too. Very good, yes. No trouble. There was no recrimination.

Mr. R:

I see, and what was the relationship between Italians and other ethnic groups?

Mr. L:

Also very good, too. There was no trouble in that line. None. None, whatsoever.

Mr. R:

That's very good.

Mr. L:

Then came the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.

Mr. R:

Oh, I see, in '36, eh?

Mr. L:

Yes, '35

Mr. R:

'35, that's right.

Mr. L:

1935. A very prophetic year. And that was really quite a thing to handle.

Mr. R:

I see, because of your position, eh?

Mr. L:

Yes. The population was quite against such an invasion and I had to display quite a bit of...

Mr. R:

courage to..

Mr. L:

Well yes, I had to explain as much as I could with what I had on hand. Yes, with pamphlets and books, and I went and gave lectures in church halls and in clubs. And I was accepted, and they didn't throw me out and they didn't insult me at all.

Mr. R:

You know, the nature of your lectures, so to speak, was such as to explain the Italian position in that war.

Mr. L:

The Italian position in accordance to this invasion.

Mr. R:

Were there people, let alone the authorities, but other Canadians who were begrudging the Italians here in Edmonton?

Mr. L:

Oh, yes, but not badly. I was never damaged, my property was never touched or damaged, never, never.

Mr. R:

So, actually, it was an understandable reaction.

Mr. L:

Yes, but then it was finished. And that was not all. Then was the declaration of war. 

Mr. R:

Oh yes, tell me something about the Second World War. What happened here?

Mr. L:

Well, as you know, Mussolini declared war on Great Britain, therefore Canada was also...

Mr. R:

...on the side of Britain.

Mr. L:

Naturally. Indirectly, she was a war enemy, too.

Mr. R:

Of Italy.

Mr. L:

Yes.

Mr. R:

So, how did you manage?

Mr. L:

I didn't like this war that Mussolini...I didn't like it at all because I knew that it was not a very, very intelligent thing to do. There was no possibility that they could possibly gain anything - or win.

Mr. R:

Tell me, what was the attitude of the Canadian authorities to the Italian community here?

Mr. L:

Well, again they didn't bother them. But - all the Italians and the Germans, they were compelled to go to the nearest R.C.M.P. detachment and register. So, I had to go to. Because, by then, I had given my resignation as an Italian Consul. I was out, and therefore, I was just an ordinary citizen. Therefore, I just went there once a month and I signed my sheet, act of presence, and that was all I did.

Mr. R:

And that was for the purpose of assuring that you were not leaving the district?

Mr. L:

Right, yes. It was a formality. 

Mr. R:

In other words, if you wanted to go to Toronto, how could you go?

Mr. L:

You would have to ask permission from them, and they would grant you the permit to leave, but that was a formality. That was the only thing.

Mr. R:

I see, that was the only reason you were ...

Mr. L:

Yes, but they didn't bother me, so...