A Treaty of Friendship and a Treaty of Commerce were signed on Feb. 10, 1932 at the Royal Palace of Jeddah by Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Hijaz, Najd and its annexes, Prince Faisal Bin Abdulaziz and Italian Consul Guido Sollazzo in the presence of Saudi Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Fuad Hamza and the commander in chief of the Minelayer “R.N. Azio”, an Italian ship expressly arrived in Jeddah for the celebration of this solemn event. Faisal's and Sollazzo's signatures paved the way for long years of successful diplomatic relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia. On the 80th anniversary of this historical event, it is interesting to recall some episodes and curious diplomatic anecdotes that characterized those moments with the help of Matteo Pizzigallo, Scholar of Economic Diplomacy and Professor of History of International Relations at the University of Naples Federico II. Pizzigallo's work, “The Diplomacy of friendship: Italy and Saudi Arabia (1932-1942),” not only describes the signature of the Jeddah Treaties but also guides the reader through the history of Italian-Saudi relationships in the years that saw the rise of legendary King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and the tenacious work of Italian diplomats in Jeddah. These diplomats were able in the early 30s to perceive the favorable climate to the reinforcement of Italy's economic and commercial presence in Saudi Arabia, a country eager to foster diplomatic relations as a counterbalance to the strong English political influence of that time. Published in Riyadh in 2005 by King Abdulaziz Foundation for Researches and Archives, the book reconstructs the political environment preceding and succeeding the ratification of the treaties and recalls in its first chapter Italy's initial difficulties (1927–1930) to recognize King Abdulaziz's sovereignty over the regions of Hijaz, Najd and annexes. The Italian Ministry of the Colonies and the Governor of Eritrea Gasparini, sustained by Benito Mussolini, promoted at that time a foreign policy based on a privileged relationship with Yemen that was against King Abdulaziz's annexation of the Asir region. In order not to compromise its relationships with Yemen, Italy proposed a sort of “recognition with reserve” to King Abdulaziz. Despite several negotiating tables, the King always refused to welcome this kind of formula especially in light of the fact that many countries including England, France, Holland and the Soviet Union had fully recognized his sovereignty since 1927. The situation began to change in 1929 thanks to the new Italian Consul in Jeddah Guido Sollazzo who perceived the counterproductive effect of Italy's old political approach incapable of foreseeing the political and economic advantages of stipulating agreements with a country that was to discover an arsenal of natural resources and start an incredible modernization program. Sollazzo encouraged the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dino Grandi to mark a new phase in the history of Italian-Saudi relations disconnecting them from the intricate Yemeni issue. His tenacity was essential to the stipulation of the Treaties of Friendship and Commerce on Feb. 10, 1932 and favored Italy's official recognition of King Abdulaziz's reign. Pizzigallo concludes his introductory chapter dedicated to the Jeddah treaties and the consequent consolidation of Italo-Saudi relations describing in detail the ratification ceremony that took place at Palazzo Chigi in Rome on April 22 and Prince Faisal's experience and warm welcome in Italy. Accompanied by Sollazzo and Undersecretary of State Hamza, the prince arrived in Naples on board of the Italian steamship Crispi sent on purpose to Jeddah to take him. After he met in Rome with King Vittorio Emanuele III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, he proceeded to the ratification of the treaties with Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Fani. He also had the chance to visit in the following days the steel works of Terni and various factories in Turin including FIAT's plants. Unknown to the majority of people today, these faraway events contributed to shape the present Italian-Saudi friendly and precious relationships. Pizzigallo's narration continues beyond the Jeddah treaties until 1942 and browses the work of other passionate and discerning Italian diplomats such as Ottavio De Peppo whose skilful diplomacy was to be darkened by the unfortunate season of the Second World War. However, using Pizzigallo's words, “despite the interlude of the war, Italian diplomats upgraded Italian-Saudi relationships to a wider frame building personal relationships with the highest Saudi authorities based on trust and reciprocal esteem. Even though their suggestions did not always reach Italian final decision-makers, their experiences entered the historical memory of Italian foreign policy that, many years later, took inspiration from them to build a diplomacy of friendship with Arab states.”
