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Briefhistoryoftheinterment

Historical,social,politicalandtheatricalcontext
ByTonyNardi
ManyCanadians,tothisday,havepracticallynoknowledgeoftheinternmentofItalian
CanadiansonCanadiansoilin1940.FewerstillknowabouttheinternmentofUkrainian
CanadiansduringandaftertheendofWorldWarI(1914to1920).Somehaveheardofthe
JapaneseCanadianinternmentduringWWII.
AmongthosewhohaveheardoftheinternmentofItalianCanadians,mostknow,itseems,onlya
fractionoftheoverallstory.Thatsbeenmyexperience.
MostCanadians,atleastthoselivinginCanadainthelate60sandearly70s,knowthattheWar
MeasuresActwasusedduringtheOctoberCrisisin1970.Mostdontknowthatthesameact,an
emergencydeclarationthatgivesthegovernmentthepowertoimprisonanddetainpeople
withoutreasonortrial,wasusedagainstUkrainian,JapaneseandItalianCanadians.Manystill
dontknowthattheletterandspiritofthatact(withouttheactbeingimplemented)isbeing
carriedouttodaybyourgovernmentagainstMuslimCanadians,intotalviolationofarticles7,8,
9,10,11and12oftheCanadianConstitution.
Canadahasthereputationofalowkey,politicallystableandquietcountry,andspends
considerabletimebroadcastingit,domesticallyandinternationally.Canadiansbeliefintheir
ownpublicityandignoranceoftheirownhistorycreatesaninsularitythatfostersafalsesenseof
securityandrealityandanunspokenbeliefthatsomehowwewillbesparedthepitfalls,the
nightmares,andthedangersfacedbythecountriesandsocietiesthatfailtolookatandlearnfrom
theirhistory.Historykeepstellingusthatweredreaming.
Theatre,atitsbest,unmaskstheindividualandthesocietyonelivesin;itallowsusthe
opportunitytowakeupfromthatdaydreamandconfrontthepastasawayofseeingthepresent
clearer.
Togive(political,socialandtheatrical)contexttotheprojectTerminus:Overture,andtodraw
parallelsbetweenpastandpresent,itsimportanttorelatesomebasic,acknowledgedandproven
facts.
OnJune10,1940,ItalyenteredthewaronthesideofGermany.Thatsameday,CanadasPrime
Minister,WilliamLyonMackenzieKing,inaradiobroadcastannouncedhehadorderedthe
internmentofItalianCanadiansidentifiedbytheR.C.M.P.asenemyaliens.Theorderwas
appliedtoItalianswhobecameBritishsubjectsafterSeptember1,1922.Kingappealedtothat
sectionoftheWarMeasuresActknownastheDefenceofCanadaRegulationsthatgives

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governmenttheauthoritytotakethenecessaryprecautionstosafeguardthecountryfrominternal
enemies.Thegovernmentalsopassedanorderincouncilwhichcalledfortheregistrationofall
personsofItalianbirth.Over30thousandCanadians(ofItalianbackground)wereclassifiedas
enemyaliens.Everymonth,theyhadtoreporttotheRegistrarofEnemyAliensandtothe
RCMP.MostwereCanadiancitizens(Britishsubjects).Eventhosenotlabeledenemyaliens(and
thereweremany)werefiredfromwork.Furthermore,theOfficeoftheCustodianofAlien
Propertywasauthorizedtoconfiscatethepropertiesofenemyaliens.
TheR.C.M.P.castitsnetoverabewilderedpopulace.Almostovernight,ahardworking,
largelyinvisiblesegmentoftheCanadianpopulationsuddenlyfounditselfthetargetofracial
prejudicefromneighboursandofclosesurveillancebygovernments.TheroundupofItalian
CanadianswasvirtuallycompletedbyOctoberof1940.MostweresenttoCampPetawawa,in
theOttawaRiverValley.
ThoughitisdifficulttoestablishjustexactlyhowmanyItalianCanadianswereinternedacross
thecountry,thenumbersatCampPetawawarangefrom700to3000,withinternmentperiodsof
2to5years.
SomeofCanadaslargercompaniesownedbyItalianCanadianswereconfiscatedandsoldto
nonItalianCanadiancompetitorsatfiresaleprices.DufferinConstructionwasone.Itsfounder
andowner,JamesFranceschini,arrivedinCanadain1906,whenhejust15.In1939his
companywasbuildingshipsandminesweepersfortheCanadianwareffort.OnJune10,1940he
wasarrestedwithoutproof,fingerprintedandconsignedtoCampPetawawaasanenemyalien.
EventheGlobeandMailcampaignedforhisrelease.Investigationssubsequentlyproved
Franceschini'sinnocence,butafullyearwentbybeforehewasgrantedapardon.Butdueto
governmentineptitude(asaresultofwhatwaslaterproventobeblatantracism)Franceschini's
releasewasheldupforanotherfivemonths.Finally,aphysiciansreportonthedeteriorating
healthofthe52yearoldCanadiancitizengainedhimhisrelease.
Whathappenedin1940israrelydisputedandwidelyacknowledged.Whyithappened,whowas
responsible,andwastheinternmentlegaliswherethedebatebegins(andends),andbegins(and
ends).(ThiswasaveryimportantmotivatingfactorforwantingtocreateTerminus)
TounderstandtheclimateintheCanadain1940itsimportanttounderstandtheNorthAmerica
climateofthe20sand30s.
Inthe20sand30stheclimateinNorthAmericawasfriendlytowardsthetwodictatorsinEurope
andapprovingoftheirfascistpolicies.ManypraisedMussoliniandHitler,period,untilthewar.
Inthelate20s,Torontos(English)EstablishmentcelebratedMussolinis6 thanniversaryinpower
ingrandfashionatMasseyHall.TheCanadianestablishmentpraisedMussoliniforhaving
instilleddisciplineinanewItalyandpraisedItalianCanadiansproclivityforlawandorder.
FromtheadministratoroftheOntarioparoleboardtoTorontoschiefofpolicetheconsensuswas
thatItaliansobeyedlawshabituallyandthatmorethananyotherpeopletheyresembledthe
English.
Duringthe20sand30sMackenzieKingsupportedandpraisedtheFascistsandMussolini,even
suggestingCanadaadoptandimplementsomeofthedictatorsprogressiveideas.Kingmetwith

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IlDuce,shookhandswithhim,andcommentedonthedictatorssofthandsasthemarkofa
sensitiveman.KingsdiariesattheNationalArchivesconfirmthis.
WasPrimeMinisterKingafascist,givenhissupportandapprovaloftheItaliandictatorandhis
policies?WeremembersoftheCanadianestablishmentfascists?Thesearelegitimatequestions,
giventhegovernmentsreasonsforinterningCanadiancitizensofItalianheritage.
Duringthe20sand30sCanadiansofItalianbackgroundwerenolessimmunetothecharmsand
welladvertisedpolicytriumphsofIlDuce.Mussolinibroughtinmanyreforms,minimumwage,
etc.HebroughtprideandarenewedsenseofItaliannesstomanyItaliansinItalyandmillionsof
expatriateslivingabroad.
Duringthe20sand30sTorontosmainstreamnewspapersroutinelywarnedtheirAnloCeltic
readershiptostayclearofUniversityStreetandQueenStreetWestonSundaysonaccountofthe
roamingorgangrindersfromTheWard.
AccordingtotheCityofTorontoarchivesNoareainearly20thcenturyTorontowasmore
congested,squalid,orinfamousthan"TheWard."BoundedbyYonge,Queen,College,and
University,theWardwasalsoToronto'spreeminentforeignquarter.Lyingwithintheshadowof
CityHall,itwasahighlyvisiblealienpresenceinapredominantlyAngloCeltictown,andoften
drewtheattentionofreformers,journalists,politicians,andbureaucrats.
GiventheItalianCanadianrealityacrossthenation,theItalianCanadianpopulationclungto
aspectsofItalianlifeviewedfavourablybyCanadasmainstreamsociety.Andasfaras
mainstreamCanadawasconcerned,Mussoliniandfascismwerethemoreattractivequalitiesof
Italianness.
In1940,themajorityofItalianCanadians(andamajorityofthosebrandedenemyaliens,stripped
ofpropertyandinterned)werefromrural,poor,underprivilegedpartsofItaly(mainlythesouth),
and,therefore,illiterateandnotpoliticallyinclinedoraware(nowherenearPrimeMinister
Kingspoliticalmind).MosthadleftasouthernItaly(yearsprior)grippedandchokedby
poverty,feudalism,bureaucracyandtheclergy.Mostwereworking12hourshifts,3shiftsina
row,andsleptonrotatingbeds,living10ormoretoasingleroom.TheirreasonforleavingItaly
wassimple;theywerehungryandneededworktofeedtheirfamilies.Tothem,politicswasa
fancyword,beyondtheirreachofunderstandingandinterest.Theyspokewithmusclesand
sweatandleftideasandpoliticstothosewithschooling.
Inastrangetwistoffate,whentheylandedinCanadatheyfounda(Italian)communitydynamic
similartotheonetheyhadleftinItaly.
TheItalianCanadianpopulationhadtocontendwiththeclergy(who,fromtimetotime,evenin
Toronto,didnotmisstheopportunitytopreachfascismfromthepulpit).Morepowerfuland
influentialthantheclergywerethenotables,thesocalledcommunityleaders,including,
strangely,butnotsurprisingly,theItalianviceconsulswhoconductedofficialbusinessfromthe
fascios(theofficialItalianfascistgovernmentconsulates).
Tobeabletoreadandwritewastohaveincalculablepoweroverthosewhocouldnt.Many
ItalianCanadianscouldnotreadorwriteinItalian,letaloneinEnglishorFrench.These
illiteratepeasantswereatthemercyoftheclergyandcommunityleaders(notables)forjustabout

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everythingoutsideofeatingandsleeping.Survivalandworkopportunitiesdependedonknowing
someonewhoknewsomeone(usuallyanotable)withinthecommunity.
Forthisreason,andasawayofshieldinganyhostilityfrommainstreamCanada,theItalian
immigrantsfromdifferentregionsofItalyfelt(andbecame)morenationalistic(Italian)inCanada
thanwhentheywerelivinginItaly.
Theclergy,andespeciallythenotables,werenotblindtothis,andusedittotheiradvantage.
Theywerea(small)minority,true.Buttheycouldreadandwriteandcouldengageinpolitics,
and,therefore,becametheselfappointedcommunitybrokers.Andthey,too,were(mainly)
enamouredwithMussolini.TogetherwiththeItaliangovernmentsconsuls,theyplayedabig
roleinpromotingsentimentalandpatrioticreferencestothehomelandasawayoffurther
definingandcontainingtheherd(Italiancommunity).
Thenewbrandofpatrioticfervourinthecommunity,however,wasgenerallynotpolitically
motivated.Fortheplebesitwasawayofbelongingtosomethingthewholeworldseemedto
acceptandsupport.Itwasalsoadefensemechanism,awayofsurviving,and,awayofcreating
(forcing)ahomogenouscommunity,especiallyinthelargercitieswhereantiimmigrant
sentimentswerestronger.Thisnewandimprovedpatriotism(fortheoldfatherlandItaly)
offeredtheItaliancommunitiesinCanadaasenseofcommunity,wheretheyfelttheyhad(and
belongedto)none.
Butintheend,itwastheclergyandnotables(andItalianconsuls)whodefinedtheItalian
Canadiancommunityforthecommunitymorethanthemanyindividualswhomadeupthe
community.
Somenotablesinfavouroffascismknewwhatitmeanttotakethefascistoath.Mostwere
buddybuddywiththeItalianconsuls.Ifsomenotableswereblindtotheconflictofinterest,
swearingallegianceandloyaltytofascismandMussoliniwhilehavingpreviouslyswornloyalty
totheBritishCrown,otherItalianCanadianswerecertainlynotblindtoit,andsaidso.
InOntarioandQuebecItalianCanadianfascistsdidnotopenlyopposeMussoliniorchallengethe
consulsauthority.Consulswerereveredwayabovewhattheirofficeswarranted.Theconsuls
wereinrealitytheItalianfasciststaterepresentativesinCanada.Andtheywerepowerfulinevery
ItalianCanadiancommunity.AndtheysupportedallItalianCanadianassociations,includingand
especiallythosethatextolledthevirtuesofItalianfascism.Andtheywerebuddybuddywiththe
Canadian(EnglishandFrench)Establishmentaswell.
ThoughmanyoftheItalianCanadianAssociationswerelegallyconstitutedtheycouldbedeemed
illegal(andwerewarnedofsuchevenfromwithintheirownItalianCanadiancommunity)ifthey
existedonaconceptoffascismasaninstitutionemanatingfromaforeigngovernment.Thiswas
awayoftellingtheofficialItalianfascistgovernment(theconsuls)inTorontoandMontreal,
ThisisCanada,notItaly.Youhavenojurisdictionhere.
Notoneoffascistnotables,mindyou,waseverfoundguiltyofconspiringagainstthecountry
theycalledhome(Canada).
LikePrimeMinisterKing,thissmall,relativelyeducatedminorityofItalianCanadianswas
caughtupinandgalvanizedbyoneoftheworldsbiggestpoliticalstars,Mussolini,whojustso

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happenedtobeItalian.Untilthewar.Mindyou,aselectfewremainedfascistsevenduringand
aftertheinternmentandthewar.
ThequestionprovokedbytheirinternmentissimilartotheoneaskedduringMcCarthys
communistwitchhunt:Ishavingapoliticalbeliefinasupposedlyfreeanddemocraticsociety
justifiablereasonforinternment,whennocrime(againstonescountry)hasbeencommitted
(otherthanholdingapoliticalbelief)?
TheunofficialanswertothatquestionimmediatelyafterJune10,1940wentsomethinglikethis:
ItwasnotokayforWops,KrautsandJapstobefascists,eveniftheylivedinCanadaandwere
Canadiancitizens,butdefinitelyokayforEnglishCanadians.TheFrenchCanadianmayorof
Montreal(CamilienHoude)whocampaignedagainstconscriptionwasalsointernedinPetawawa
forreignitingthePlainsofAbrahamandstating:Ifwarcomes,andifItalyisononesideand
Englandontheother,thesympathyoftheFrenchCanadiansinQuebecwillbeonthesideof
Italy.RememberthatthegreatmajorityofFrenchCanadiansareRomanCatholics,andthatthe
PopeisinRome.WeFrenchCanadiansareNormans,notLatins,butwehavebecomeLatinized
overalongperiodofyears.TheFrenchCanadiansareFascistsbyblood,butnotbyname.The
Latinshavealwaysbeeninfavourofdictators.
ManyFrenchCanadiansinQubecsharedthisviewbut,exceptfortheFrenchCanadian
MontrealMayor(Houde),onlyItalianCanadiansinQubecwerearrestedandinterned.
InaNorthAmericanclimateofFascismmaniaitwasapparentlydifficulttoseparatethose
Italiansengagedinfascistpoliticsandpropagandaandthoseridingonthewingsofrenewed
Italianprideandpatriotism.
Oneofthemorecompellingstoriesthatdemonstratestheclimateandrealityofthetimesinvolves
anItalianCanadianinterneefromVancouver.
BorninCanada,hepublishedadailyItalianlanguagenewspaperthat,overtheyears(30s)
printedmanyglowingreviewsofMussoliniandhispolicies.Duringhisappealhearinghewas
showncopiesofhisnewspaperandaskedifhehad,infact,publishedthearticles.
Hisinitialresponsewasaquestion.Itconfusedthethreejudges.Heaskedwhythepublisherof
THEVancouver(English)dailywasnotstandingbesidehimincourt.Hethenshockedthethree
judgesbytellingthemIamonlyastaffofoneanddonothavethetimetowritearticles.I
translatedallthosearticlesfromTHEVancouver(English)dailysopeoplefromtheItalian
community(whocantreadEnglish)couldreadtheminItalian.Thejudgeswentsilent.The
interneecalledthethreeaKangaroocourtandwentbacktotheintermentcamp.
Suchwastheclimate.Itsintherecord.
ThedecisiontoarrestandinternCanadianssympathetictoMussoliniandhispoliciesandthe
reasonsforclassifyingthemasenemyaliensshouldhaveplacedtheCanadianPrimeMinister
(King)andagoodchunkoftheCanadianEstablishmentatthetopofthelist.
ButKingwasnotItalian.NeitherwastheCanadianEstablishment.

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Ultimately,ethnicbackgroundbecamegroundforarrestandinternment:racismwasnotacrime
intheCanadaofthe1940s.