Reagan, Italian Envoy Trade Pledges of Alliance

WASHINGTON-President Reagan and Italian Ambassador Rinaldo Petrignani traded pledges of “indestructible” alliance before a cheering crowd of Italian-Americans on Saturday, just two days after the Italian government fell over handling of the capture of the the Achille Lauro hijackers.

Petrignani’s warm remarks suggested his country may wish to salve its bruised feelings about the incident, in which U.S. forces diverted the ship’s hijackers to Sicily, and get on with normal relations with the United States.

Prime Minister Bettino Craxi angrily accused the United States of “polemical” behavior in a resignation speech.

That bitterness was not evident Saturday as Petrignani and Reagan appeared at a dinner of the National Italian-American Federation. Petrignani lavishly praised the “genius and hard work” that he said make the United States “the great and noble nation that it is today.”

“The differences we have had in the past few days have been difficult for all of us,” Petrignani said, “but frankness and friendship go together.”

In his only comment on the dispute before making a brief speech, Reagan said, “Mr. Ambassador, I assure you the friendship between our two countries is unshakable.”

Both remarks drew ovations from nearly 2,000 Italian-Americans at the 10th annual dinner, held to honor singer Frank Sinatra for humanitarian work.

Sinatra, ironically, drew tepid applause when he saluted Reagan’s handling of the hijacking.