711.00/3–2048: Telegram

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

1241. Secretary Marshall’s California speech1 prominently reported in Rome independent and right press March 20 with emphasis on suspension of US aid to Italy in event of Popular Front victory April 18. Independent conservative Messaggero reported under Washington dateline that manner in which some news agencies handled Mr. McDermott’s statement re suspension aid to Italy if Communists won election had furnished Communist orators and press pretext to assert voters could vote Popular Front in assurance Italy would continue receive aid. In California address Secretary Marshall spoke clearly on issue, continues article, to dispel grave perplexity in Italian electorate that might have been caused by these Communist assertions.

Footnote to independent conservative Tempo story said Communist Unità March 17, mutilating Washington official statement, dared to assert De Gasperi had lied, since there was proof US would continue sending Italy aid even if Communists came to power.2 “Good propaganda for April 18”, continues Tempo, “but it was no trouble for US to show it was based on falsehood. Doubts in matter … are today definitely eliminated by … Marshall’s speech … His language is crystal clear and renders comment unnecessary; we shall see now whether Italian Communist leaders will be able to distort it. Meanwhile, it is well to recapitulate what would happen April 18 if electorate should not reveal itself to be aware of its duty; (1) refusal of visas for entering America to all Italian Communists; (2) suspension of American aid with resulting economic catastrophe in Italy”.

Communist Unità editorialized, “Marshall’s language clearly shows how US intends to use aid as electoral weapon of blackmail against Italian people. Secretary of State pretends not to know Communist Party has repeatedly declared it is not opposed to American aid, but to … political and economic provisos harmful to our independence … Marshall’s statement confirms aid is intended and reserved not for Italian people but for Christian democracy, which … distributes it on party basis without any democratic control.”

Short fusion Socialist Avanti item reiterates stand Popular Front opposed only “to those clauses of plan which mean adherence to policy of division in Europe and of encirclement of USSR”. Same paper carried lead editorial by Mario Bracci minimizing possible effects of victory by Front which conservatives so fear and declaring, “we will [Page 858] continue to be friends of America because we have many interests in common with her and because politics is art of protecting interests of people. We will perhaps change forms and methods in way that will probably be more useful to America, Europe and ourselves. We will create closer bonds with eastern Europe and Russia, obeying both our natural function of bridge between East and West and needs of our economy; this will be most useful to cause of peace.”

Editorial by left Paese editor Tomaso Smith entitled “scandal” takes line Secretary’s statement reflects aspirations of Wall Street and not American workers and violates principle of Italy’s freedom to determine own destiny for which American troops declaredly fought; “How is it possible accept hypothesis that others force us to ban Social-Communists, as if they did not have right to citizenship in our country”. Editorial concludes with query to De Gasperi on what course of action he will follow if elections give Social-Communists majority necessary to form government.

Dunn
  1. For text see Department of State Bulletin, March 28, 1948, p. 424.
  2. See footnote 3, p. 853.