Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Western Europe, Volume III

865.00/3–1648: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State

confidential
urgent

Rome, March 16, 1948—9 p. m.

1162. Public currents of opinion here toward forthcoming election since March 6 (mytel 1030 of March 10)¹ show popular Democratic Front channel is broadening. Responsible observers agree PDF will poll 40 percent of vote with several reputable American correspondents predicting 45 percent for PDF and 35 percent for CD with remaining percentage divided among other government and right parties. Regardless of outcome opinion is unanimous upon inevitability of dealing with heavy PDF demand for democratic government posts.

Effect upon Italians of international events such as Czech coup, Masaryk death, ERP and steps toward western European unity has been varied depending upon political convictions and awareness of each voter. Press has undoubtedly pointed up sharpening of east-west issue, but each paper—and none are without convictions—has slanted these events in line with its political views and those of its subscribers. The greatest result however has been to shock into political awareness many left of center and independent elements, who had up to present entertained a certain tolerance toward collaboration with Communists. Net effect on the electorate at large however is still believed to be unfavorable to anti-Communist parties and electoral lists.

Meanwhile intensity of Italian electioneering struggle has continued to increase. No disorders except for Saragat’s experience at Pistoia (see mytel 1021, March 1).² The “political truce” continues in force and apparently suffered no serious strain either from Communist complaints of tone De Gasperi speeches or Saragat’s experience of political intolerance. Reports indicate Communists are satisfied with present “controlled unrest” prior to elections. The church through the Pope has taken a resolute stand against the Front as reported in mytel 1030; the CDs are showing energy in giving their electoral story, and are offering telling poster and handbill propaganda competition to Front. March 14, as specimen of every future Sunday until election, saw political leaders speaking throughout country with leading spectacle in Rome being bloc-sponsored women’s agency holding a “court of peace” to protest trend to war (see mytel 1086 of March 12).³ Dove of peace is new and growing motif in bloc propaganda and reflects defensive attitude fundamentally underlying bloc press in past week with its major offensive directed upon alleged Vatican Cippico scandal (my A–228 of March 11).⁴ Government and right press unceasingly dwelt upon electoral issues as between Communism and liberty.

New element in campaign is formation of “Democratic Front of Government Employees” which represents PDF views on bureaucratic reform. It sponsored statement to press criticizing public administration (see mytel 1057, March 11)³ which was in fact vehicle for attack on De Gasperi government. Importance of “civil servants front” as Communist fifth column in government presently discounted by responsible minister (see mytel 1115 of March 13).⁵ Movement has been somewhat discredited by denials from certain government officials, whose names appeared in early press accounts, that they had any connection with this new Front appendage.

Only bright spot in week’s political developments, and that more apparent than real, was publication of Doxa Poll (see mytel 992, March 8)⁶ which gave Christian Democrats large plurality and reduced the Front’s strength in the new Parliament to one-half present current estimates. It also showed increased strength of De Gasperi’s personal position in north Italy beginning of 1948. Poll is not considered to present accurate picture election results by most competent observers for reason set forth mytel 1012 of March 9.⁷

While government and politicians and press have emphasized flow of US aid is contingent only upon existence of non-Front government it has been PDF tactics to becloud this most damaging argument and to forestall any break with US and ERP until after the election. The move of CGIL president Di Vittorio and Santi in traveling to London for Carey meeting (remytel 1109, March 13)⁸ is a prime case in point. The outcome, ignored by the Front press in accordance with the Communist “drift” policy, has been gleefully played by government journals as confirmation of their thesis upon the American position.

The colonial issue remains one of outstanding electoral factors ever present in press items and political remarks but they have not changed their position in general public perspective. This sole event bringing extensive comment was statement of FonOff Under Secretary Brusasca (mytel 996, March 8)⁹ giving Italy’s proposed program for the colonies.

Dunn

1. Ante, p. 845.
2. Telegram 1021, March 9, 1948, not printed. It reported that Saragat was prevented by heckling of members of the Popular Front from addressing a political meeting at Pistoia. He was, however, able to deliver his speech next day at Florence. (865.00/3–948)
3. Not printed.
4. Not printed. It summarized press reports regarding the case of the priest Edoardo Prettner Cippico, accused of many forgeries and swindles. He was expelled from his office in the Vatican archives, and reduced to a layman’s status so that the police could take action if necessary. (860H.20266A/3–1148)
3. Not printed.
5. In this telegram, not printed, Dunn reported having learned from Pacciardi, Vice President of the Council of Ministers, “that most of the Communists who were put into the bureaucracy when their party was in government have since been removed, and those who have not been removed have been transferred to innocuous positions and ‘isolated.’” (865.00/3–1348)
6. This telegram, not printed, summarized results of the poll by the Doxa Public Opinion Institute. The poll was taken at the end of January and released March 7. (865.00/3–848)
7. This telegram, not printed, reported: “Percentage of vote going to Demo-Christians according Doxa poll (43.6 percent) is larger than figure hazarded by most optimistic appraisals of observers here. Defect in poll, in Embassy’s opinion, stems principally from fact that it does not measure greater discipline of leftist parties in getting its voters to polls, as well as intimidation, overt or covert, by which Popular Front will keep others from voting.” (865.00/3–948)
8. See footnote 4, p. 848.
9. This telegram, not printed, quoted Messaggero regarding Brusasca’s radio message to the population of Libya outlining the program which the Italian Government proposes to realize if Italy is given trusteeship. “Brusasca’s promises include Parliament elected by popular suffrage, freedom of speech, press and assembly, and equality between native elements and Italians. He gave assurance no one would be punished for past political opinions or actions and that wrongs inflicted by Italy would be compensated for. ‘New parliamentary and administrative organs’ would be empowered to regulate immigration from Italy and abroad Brusasca added, concluding that two countries are economically interdependent and promising that Italy would rapidly lead Libya to independence.” (865.014/3–848)