Evening star., 1947-12-14
Reds Beaten in Move.
To Probe Rome Police
Action During Strike.
BY the Associated Press

AIHVH DuInly SHIhC
BY the Associofed Press
ROME, Dec. 13.-The Constitu-
ent Assembly tonight rejected a
Communist move to investigate po-
lice action in the turbulent two-day
general strike throughout Rome
Province, in which both sides still
claimed victory. The motion was
beaten, ZIG to Ill.
The assembly reconvened for the
vote after debate degenerated into
shouting and name-calling and its
Communist president, Umberto Ter
racini, suspended the session.
The debate dealt largely with the
use of clubs by the police. A record
force of $1,000 was on duty in the
Rome vicinity yesterday before labor
voted to end the strike at midnight.
Communist Deputy Clan Carlo
Pajetta, who yesterday found him.
self in the center of a melee, charged
that provocative forces" had in
filtrated police ranks.
Through official statements and
newspaper articles, Leftists declared
that the strike had succeeded, while
the center, the right and some neu-
trail quarters said it had failed.
Police to Get Presents.
Two independent and monarchist
Rome papers started subscription
funds to buy Christmas presents for
the police for their work during the
strike.
Vatican City's L'Osservatore Ro-
mano said the strike could not
have lasted third day, and that
Giuseppe di Vittorio, Communist
secretary of the General Confedera-
ton of Labor whose Rome branch
called the waikout, had made
forced landing"
L'Unita, Communist newspaper,
declared, THE workers have won"
The Independent Rightest news
paper Giornale d'Italia said "the
experiment has failed"
The Christian Democrat paper II
Popolo said Rome wins its test
against agitators and civil war;
Premier Alcide de Gasperi's Office
declared in communique that the
government had made no concessions
to the strikers beyond those offered
before the strike was called.
The Communist claimed last
night. when the strike was called
off, that they had forced the gov
ernment to grant an additional
7700, 100000 lire (S13,547,974D for aid
to Rome Provinces 10000 unem-
ployed in the form of public works.
400 to 800 to Face Courts.
The government communique said
this claim was without foundation"
and asserted the strike ended where
it began-with an offer of 11,OO0.-
100000 lire ($19,433 82O) of which
4 ZOO, 100000 were funds already set
aside for public works and 100000
600 in new appropriations.
The Rome Labor Chamber had
asked 10,000,000,000 lire in new ap-
preparations. A reported offer of
the city government to add 2,000,-
10000 lire to help meet the strikers
demands was not confirmed.
The Interior Ministry also denied
the claim in the labor victory" an
nouncement that the government
had agreed to immediate release of
the 400 to 600 persons arrested dur
ing the strike. The ministry said
disposition of those arrested was up
to the courts. Is
A survey of neutral observers
agreed that the strike was nearly
100 per cent effective at its start
Thursday, but that it dropped
rapidly to so or 60 per cent the
second day.
Many believed that if it had con-
tinued third day its effectiveness
would have fallen off to not more
than Is per cent.
Many also believed that Premier
de Gasperi's Christian Democrat
government had emerged stronger.
One index was his attitude toward
the efforts to broaden his cabinet
by including the moderately Leftist
Republicans and Labor Socialists.
Republicans Switched.
Mr. de Gasperi said Wednesday
he had hopes of concluding his
negotiations that day. But then
the strike intervened. The Re-
publican representative in the
Chamber of Labor voted for the
strike, while the Labor Socialist
abstained. The next day Republi-
can delegates voted against con-
tinuance of the strike.
Tonight. after gaining assurance
that he could depend upon his DO
lice forces, Mr.. de Gasperi was re-
ported determined not to grant Re-
publican demands for the Ministry
OF Defense as their price for par
ticipation in the government. He
was reported also unwilling to
grant the Labor Socialist request
for the commerce and industry post.
Mr.. de Gasperi told reporters he
thought the governments display
OF force during the strike had pre-
vented the use of firearms"
Although there were countless
clashes between police and strikers
there were no fatalities and no
grave injuries. Leftists appeared
Impressed by the effectiveness of