Evening star., 1947-03-09
Italy Upset
Politically
Too Many Factions
Are Blocking
Coalition
BY Constantine Brown
The s.ar'. Foreign Affairs Aneiy,.


contend that If King Victor EN-
manuel had abdicated two months
earlier the Italian plebiscite would
have favored continuation of con-
stitutional monarchy with King
Umberto on the throne.
This is the opinion voiced in dis
cussions by political leaders who ad-
NIT of the record that the country
presents a chaotic picture, not be-
cause the people are unstable but
because the many political factions
are unable to get together to form q
real coalition. Their selfish inter-
ests stand in the way. #.
Many of those favoring the mon
archy are not royalists but person,
who doubted Italy's ability to be-
come going concern as a republic
under present conditions. These
say that even today the country
south OF Rome is soldly in favor OF
the Savoy dynasty.
Policy Paid Up.
Rejection Of the monarchy in the
plebiscite was largely due to the
personality of King Victor, whom
the Italian people could not forgive
for having permitted himself to be-
come the tool of Benito Mussolini.
II the King had gone into exile a
few weeks earlier, Umberto would
have carried the country.
The story of why Victor Emmanuel
stayed on is told now by high
ranking Allied officials in Rome and
Is beth ridiculous and pathetic.
For many years King Victor had
been paying large annual premiums
on an endowment life insurance
policy in a British company. When
italy Joined the Nazis in declaring
war on France and the other Allies,
the policy was fully paid up. But
the funds which represented a
handsome yearly income for the
reigning monarch were frozen by
the British treasury as enemy alien
property.
Soon after Italy surrendered and
became a co-beiligerent of the Allies
leading italian political figures be-
gan to advise the King to abdicate
in favor of his eldest son, not only
to save the throne and the dynasty,
but to prevent major upset in the
Italian political system. A change
in the form of government in the
midst of poor economic and social
conditions, King Victor's close ad-
visers said, could end only In disaster
for Italy.
British Treasury Balks.
The King thought the matter over
for some time and finally consented
on two conditions: Q) That he be
allowed to 60 to Egypt to spend the
rest of his days, and (2) that he be
paid the yearly income from his
British endowment policy.
The King of Egypt agreed readily
enough to receive the Italian mon
arch, but the principal hitch came
from the British treasury. The in
surance funds had been impounded
and the meticulous British officials
could not see their way to release
them. The British diplomatic and
military representatives in Italy
burned up the wires to the Foreign
Office and War Office, begging ano
pleading with their superiors to
make clear in London that this was
not an ordinary case and that rea-
sons of state made it advisable to
relax the rules.
Moreover, it was pointed out that
italy had been accepted as a CO.
belligerent and consequently the
rules on enemy aliens should no
longer apply. But the British treas
ury was adamant. 1t pointed out
coolly that it had very large frozen
funds belonging to Italian citizens,
who were being charged high rates
for administration by the treasury.
If Victor Emmanuel's funds were
unfrozen, there would be no valid
reason for continuing to hold the
funds of other Italian citizens.
yryoc oil
kinds of special subsidies to assure
him a living, but he stubbornly re-
fused to vacate the throne until he
had obtained what rightfully be-
longed to him-the endowment pol
icy, the premiums of which had been
paid out of his personal savings.
Fascists Become Reds.
The plebiscite was lost by a mar
row margin. Umberto's supporters
were chatting. The Communist
leader. Palmiro Togliatti, had re-
turned to Italy after a stay of some
20 years in Moscow. His instruc-
tions were we'll known. He was to
work hard to get the monarchy out
and profit by the inevitable confu-
sion caused by shortages, discomfort
and poor administration to prepare
the ground for an eventual Com
munist government.
The door was opened wide to all
former small-fry Fascists-local ex-
ecutives and muscle-men-to enter
the Communist Party and thus
avoid being punished for their past
.misdeeds. Thus the ranks of the
Communists, to which the indus
trial workers in the north had re-
fused to flock, were swollen by those
who replaced the Fascist insignis
with the hammer and sickle.
Togliatti and his lieutenant, Pie
tro. Nenni who heads a nominally
Socialist group, promised to cooper.
ate with the new republican govern.
ment and agreed to participate ir
its first cabinet. Now they are out
side and preparing powerful drive
to win the forthcoming election
which will give the italian republic