Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-08

ponents of the treaty agreed on one
thing: That Italy was seriously
threatened with Communist infll-
tration from outside.
The spokesman for ratification
believe that the confirmation of
that document might avoid such
a calamity. The opponents believe
that we have now opened the gates
for a Communist flood in Italy.
Time will tell who was right. And
it will not be long before demo-
cratic elements in Italy grouped
around their present standard
bearer, Prime Minister de Gasperi,
will measure their strength with the
strongly organized Communists led
by the Moscow-supported Palmiro
Togliatti.
The present government of italy
is mere stop gap. So Is the Con-
stituent Assembly. New elections
for a regular assembly with men,
bers having a six years mandate
will be held this fall.
u. S. Support Urgent
Premier de Gasperi last month
purged his administration of Com
munists. His present government is
composed of Socialists, Christian So
cialists and nonpolitical financial
and economic specialists. Their task
is to keep things on an even keel ano
try to improve Italys present dis
tressing political and economic sit
uation the best they can until the
italian people have had chance to
vote for their new Parliament.
In order to prevent an aggrava-
ton of the economic chaos which
plays in the hands of the Com
munists, Italy will have to be
strongly supported by United States
loans, credits or outright grants.
Ratification of the treaty by an
overwhelming vote gives de Gasperi
renewed hopes that the American
Government will not hesitate to
complete the job of keeping Italy
outside the iron curtain by extend
ing economic and financial help
amounting. according to Italian
estimates, to at least 100000, 00(
for the current year.
The Communist Way
If that or larger amount coulc
save Italy from being thrown be.
hind the iron curtain the invest.
ment would be well worth while.
But, even if the majority of thu
Italian people were to vote agains
the Communists and send back tt
Rome an overwhelmingly demo
cratic Socialist Parliament, tn,
threat to Italy would continue tt
exist.
Communists have never com,
into power by popular vote.
They first take over the reins O.
government by coup d'etat, estab'
fish a ruthless dictatorship with the
assistance of a strong and loya
police force, then after all the dis.
senting elements have been purgec
either by execution or deportation
a "plebiscite" is held. 1t generally
turns out to be between 80 and 9e
per cent in favor Of the Communist
dictatorship. The "one-party" sys-
tenn is installed and the population
which is ordered to the polls has
no choice but to vote in favor Of
the Communists.
Palmiro Togliatti, who has beer
in constant communication with his
colleague In the Commintern, Mar
shall Tito, is now regarded as the
outstanding spokesman for the Rus.
slams in Western Europe.
1t is up to him to deliver hi.
country to Moscow, even If the vot.
ing were to show that the Italian,
prefer the western system of gov.
eminent.
Another Coup Feared
The recent Soviet coup in Hun.
gary where the pink" government
of Ferenc Macy was unceremonious-
~ replaced overnight by one with &
thoroughly red" complexion, ha.
once more demonstrated that the
USSR is not bothered with any in
ternational commitments or with
the desires Of the country they wish
to take over.
The American Government il
fully aware of the possibility thai
in the course of the next IL months
there may be repetition of thu
Hungarian coup in italy regard
less of the result of the fall cleo
lions in that country.
We have had formal agreements
with the USSR regarding free and
unfettered elections" in Poland and
in Yugoslavia These have formed
the basis of our official recognition
of the governments OF those two
countries. Yet we know today that
under the strong prodding of the
USSR both these countries have
been blessed with stooge govern.
ments which turn to Moscow fol
orders and instructions.
The recognition Of the Romaniar
and Bulgarian governments wa.
also based On free and unfettered'