811.911/3–548: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Dunn ) to the Secretary of State
950. Responsible Foreign Office officials, who have been most interested in recent campaign in Italian language Progresso and in other American newspapers requesting their readers to write to relatives in Italy re present political situation (see my despatch No. 139, January 28), have now come forward with the suggestion that this campaign be placed squarely on electoral issue of communism or democratic government friendly to the US. They say that the effect of letters or postcards written to relatives, particularly in southern Italy, would be tremendous, especially should those communications urge the addressees to vote in the elections for some party other than the present Communist dominated Fronte Democratico Popolare. Would Department be disposed to support such a proposal which would be very helpful in the elections?1
- In a subsequent telegram, 1114 of March 13, not printed, Ambassador Dunn suggested that the writers in America include the statement that they would no longer be able to send gift and food packages if the Italians voted the Democratic Front into power (811.911/3–1348).↩