The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-31
BY VIRGIL PINKLEY


 Paris. July 31-CUP)-Franc and Italy at loggersheads for half cen- tury. today Lace many common problems solution of which para doxically may lead to friendship and cooperation between these nations.
 It is in these two countries with roughly 100000 persons each that the Catholic Church and Con- munism are having gruelling daily battle
 The contest extends to many oth- CT European countries but the is sue is perhaps more sharply drawn in these neighboring western Euro pean powers. During recent weeks as evidenced by elections. Com- munism either was checked or lost ground
 Must Have cooperation
 But France as well as Italy must obtain genuine assistance from Communist parties, one of three leading political groups in bott countries. The Communists through strikes and non-participation II national governments could sabotage the entire recovery effort.
 Italy and France in common with many parts of Europe face food shortages, fantastically high prices, lack of clothes and houses and in- adequate transport.
 France, like Italy, seeks a stable government to permit the applica- ton of recovery program. Both countries suffered heavy ravages of war. Communications and trans port were hard hit. Both countries lack highly efficient modern indus trial setups.
 Of the two nations France, in raw materials, territorial and col onial possessions and agricultural production, was vastly more wealthy but suffers from the effects of a drift toward near bankruptcy ln prewar years, plus the corruption of feeble French governments al- most continuously between the two world wars.
 Spent 10 Years Killing
 France and Italy probably more so France, show clearly the effects of the madness of war. Europeans spent 10 of the last 30 years killing each other, preparing to kill or try ing to overcome the destruction dislocation or exhaustion wal causes. France three times in 7C years became a European battle field.
 France and Italy both have gi- gantic black markets in operation Both have currencies which still are far from stable and which many of their own citizens diStrust.
 Both countries have become high ly nationalistic. This tendency in Italy is expected to become more pronounced if the peace conference enforces a treaty on Italy which virtually prevents recovery and lowers still more the standard Of living.
 As a result of recent elections in both countries, liberals and center are winning new power. and confi- dence is returning, even if slowly In France there appears some will to Work-a will lacking for so many years.
 MOderniZatiOn Needed
 But France urgently needs mod ern methods and up-to-date ma chinery which the recent American loan is expected to provide to some degree.
 The average worker in France produces about one-fourth of that produced by his counterpart in the United States Italian agriculture due to the poor soil, lack of ma chinery and fertilizers, returns a yield of one-fourth to one-sixth that of U. $. agriculture.
 Sitting over a Watery glass of beer in a safe near the Care St. Lazare. middle-aged metallurgi- cal engineer clamped his pipe be- tween his teeth and said all France needs to become a leading power agaln Is courage, lots of hard work and time '
 AS he blew out the smoke from his bad mixture of tobacco and dried leaves he mentioned the American loan and Frances par tlcipation in the discussions of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
 France Recovering
 The fact that the peace confer ence is being held in Paris seems to indicate to him and his country men that France is on the way back
 This map, like many othe;s aside not want Communism nor do they