Wilson’s Parallel Diplomacy: The American Red Cross and Italian Public Opinion, 1917-1919

After the rout of Caporetto, Italians familiarized with the American uniform mainly by the presence of ARC workers. Throughout Italy, they represented mythic America, its munificence, effectiveness and concern for the common man. Italy’s campaign was second only to France’s for budget and range. Relief to soldiers was a small part of ARC activity, since its bulk went to civilians. Its main target was to hearten all components of the society, nursing their "wounds of the spirit”, as demoralization, unrest and tendency to revolutionary violence. Therefore, its action combined assistance with propaganda for war, wilsonian aims, and American models, playing purely political roles. The article analyzes the ARC publicity system, strategy, and relations with the population at large