Following this note published yesterday, someone asked me whether Dom Mintoff had any correspondence with Enrico Berlinguer and the answer is in the negative because the Malta Labour Party did not have any relations with the Communist Party of Italy (PCI). Even the MLP’s relationships with Pietro Nenni’s Socialist Party (PSI) were basically nonexistent given that the PSI never wanted to get involved in issues against NATO.
The Communist Party of Italy was not a member of the Socialist International. Communist Parties did not have their own international organisation after Cominform was abolished in 1953 with Stalin’s death.
The only political ally Mintoff had in Italy was Aldo Moro from the Democrazia Cristiana (DC), who as Minister of Foreign Affairs, helped Mintoff clinch a deal with the British in 1972. At that time, Mintoff used to meet Moro in the presence of Andreotti who was Prime Minister. Andreotti never opposed or interfered in Moro’s support of Mintoff in his negotiations with the British. On the other hand, the British used to be flustered at Moro’s intervention whom they saw as backing the wrong horse. Moro was always supportive of Mintoff throughout his negotiations with the UK.
Aldo Moro was killed by the Red Brigades in 1978, and Mintoff named a major road in the South of Malta after him.
Malta under Mintoff adopted a cold and distant position towards the Soviet Union, but opened up to China.
Also note that Enrico Berlinguer was in favour of Italy’s NATO-membership.
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