The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-13
Alarm In Italy
BY ANNE O,HARE MCCORMICK

BY ANNE O'HARE MCCORMICK
Two speeches delivered in Italy last Sun
dav. one by Pope Plus XII to an enormou!
rallv in the square of st. Peters in Rome
the other by Palniro Togliatti, the Com
munist leader, in the Communist strong
hold of Modena, in the Pc Valley, deserve
attention as alarm signals that the strug
gle that rends Italy is coming to a head
The Pope spoke with an urgency ano
emotion rare in papal utterances. He spoke
as the Bishop Of Rome, not to the world
but to Italians, IN an issue which, though
international, is pressing so hard on Italy
that it is the overwhelming and immediate
domestic question. TT question is wheth'
er this weak and exposed country, the new
frontier of the Western world, is on the
eve of a Communist revolution. "The time
of the test is here,' the Pope is quoted as
saying. "Even a few minutes can decide
the victory"
The meaning of these words was illus
trated by the declaration OF the Commu-
mist leader before a cheering crowd in the
North. 'We nave 80, 900 well-armed Par
tisans at our disposal" said Mr.. Togliatti,
"and if the Government does not give us
prompt proof of the democratic spirit we
shall have to fight, because only by fight
ing shall we obtain positive results"
Togliatti is no firebrand. Hitherto, like
Thorez in France, he has played the role
Of the cautious and moderate politician,
seeking power by legal means, opposing
the use of force and restraining the ex-
IRENE Partisans and their chief, Luigi
Longo. Longo, who has frequently been
mentioned by American officers in Italy
as the likely leader of a Communist coup,
was present at the Modena meeting. He
and Togliatti reviewed a parade OF the
Partisan "army."
Since the Communists were excluded
from the Government last June, they have
followed exactly the same line as the party
in France, a line of watchful waiting at
the top and systematic political activity at
the local level. But in Italy, they have
been organizing force as well. TogliattIs
speech was the first public admission OF
the known fact that the Communists have
a military organization, and the first threat
that they are prepared to overthrow the
de Gasperi government by violence.
This sudden vote face Of the Commu-
mist leader may signify one of two things.
Either it has been decided that the time
has come for a Communist thrust for pow
err in Western Europe or it is felt that it
is already 500 late to GUST a non-Commu-
mist regime except by force. In either case
the decision would hardly be made in Italy.
Togliatti was so long a power IN the exec
utive councils in Moscow that 1t is hardly
likely that he has been overruled by the
direct actionists of the Italian Party. If he
has changed, it is probable that the cline"
has changed. The best guessers in Europe
and all interpretations of Soviet policy
are guesses-have always prediced that
the first big test would be made not in
France but in Italy. Perhaps the proof
rubbed in in Hungary that they cannot win
illegally" even when all the cards are in
their hands prompts the Communist lead
~.- L. 4,,ra - <ho old yoofhn6 nf 1sdunIIl.
ton. Perhaps they begin to doubt that time
is on their side. Perhaps "dollar diplo-
Macy looks more effective to them than
it does from this side of the line.
At any rate, they are pushing the pace
in Italy. Togliatti's threatening speech was
followed by a strike of nearly LOCO, 600 ag-
ricultura1 workers. This is the climax of a
wave of strikes and demonstr ations that
has been %convulsing the country all sum-
mer. The Communists and Left-wing So
c~ialists are organizing protest meetings in
every town and village for Sept. 20, and
these meetings will be popular. for the
cost of living is driving the people to des-
peration: The Government; on the edge of
bankruptcy, is rightly alarmed, not so
much by the Communist offensive. for the
peasants, artisans shopkeepers who form
the bulk of the population are anti-Com-
munist by instinct and temperament, as
by the swift worsening Of conditions that
make any change seem a change for the
better. The Pope warned that the soil is
ripe for revolution.
All this is not unrelated to the Russian
signing of the Italian treaty, the necessary
prelude to the evacuation of American and
British occupation troops. It is not unre-
lated to the developing plan for the eco
nomic organization Of Western Europe. AS
an active participant in the planning the
Italian government estimates that the
country can become ~self-supporting in five
years with a loan of $500, 600, 900. pro-
vided that the credits can be used to fl
nance a long-term reconstruction program.
If Russia were not greatly disturbed by
its possible effects, she would not fulmi-
nate so constantly against the, Marshall
Plan, nor rush to consolidate her controls
before it becomes a reality.
We are getting as tone deaf to rumbles
m%assacres in India, the tragedy of the
Exodus, the despair of internment and pris-
on camps, touch us as vaguely as reports
OF nations on he brink of collapse. Yet
tne Crisis IN Italy is real. All reports, pub
lie and private, indicate that the impas-
stoned urgency of Plus XII reflects a state
OF emergency. 1t is a warning that pre-
ventiye measures will be too late after
lne theological contest passes into the next
stage.-New York Times.
The recovery of Europe has been far
slower than had been expected, Disinteera.
Ing forces are becoming evident. The pa
t,ent IS sinking while the doctors deliberate.
Actlon cannot await compromise thro1oh
eAhaustlon.@Secretary of State Marshall.
we have spent millions to teach Young
niggarda1,n,s II now to dc, but we have been