while Matteo Salvini – the leader of the coalition League party – said the Israeli leader would be welcome in the country.
1938 Italy
Ciano replied that while there had been only 40 to 50 thousand Italian Jews there was now an illegal and surreptitious infiltration of Jews from Rumania, Austria and other parts of Europe which the Italian Government was powerless to prevent by ordinary means. He said that if this situation was left remedied Italy would within 5 years find itself harboring at least half a million foreign Jews. Accordingly the Italian Government was resolved to discourage this immigration by making it clear to the Jews that Italy does not want them. history.state.Gov/historicaldocuments/frus1938v02/d459