The Soviets and Italy had maintained contacts since 26 December 1921 through the signing of a Trade Agreement [2] and full diplomatic relations since 7 February 1924, making Mussolini's Italy the first Western nation to recognize the Soviet Union.[3] Some members of the Italian Communist Party, such as Luigi Tolentino from Palermo lived in exile in the Soviet Union, which caused some political friction and accusations of harbouring "subversives."