Vittorio Rolandi Ricci

Vittorio Amedeo Rolandi Ricci (1860–1951) came to diplomacy through law, banking, and industry. Born in Albenga and trained at Genoa, he advised major industrial firms and helped organize bank and steel industry rescues after the financial crisis of 1907. His overlapping business roles also drew criticism over conflicts of interest. He became a senator in 1912. ¹

At Washington in 1921–22 he dealt with war debts, investment, tariffs, and immigration. His assertion that Italian emigrants owed their first loyalty to Italy provoked American objections. He also served on Italy’s delegation to the Washington naval conference. ¹

On 6 February 1922, Rolandi Ricci signed the Five-Power Naval Treaty alongside Carlo Schanzer and Luigi Albertini. The agreement restricted capital ship construction and armament. Its replacement tonnage ceilings gave France and Italy equal allowances of 175,000 tons each, below the British, American, and Japanese totals. ²

After returning to Italy, he supported Mussolini, joined the Fascist Party in 1925, and retained prominent financial positions. He backed the Italian Social Republic in 1943 and advised Mussolini during its final years. Removed from the Senate, he was convicted of collaboration in May 1945 and sentenced to fifteen years. He later received a pardon following the June 1946 amnesty; his appeal against removal from the Senate failed. ¹