Evening star., 1948-03-14

strategically than ever before. II
that country becomes q Russian sat-
elite the whole Eastern Mediterra-
nean-vital to us because of Its
lines Of communications and its ac-
cess to the strategically essential
Middle East--wll fall into the
hands Of the Sopiets. Greece and
Turkey will be doomed unless we de-
eide that our national security de-
mands that we fight for them, But
with Italy in the hands OF our
avowed enemies, the battle will be
an uneven one.
Ambassador Works Hard
Onicial releases and "spokes-
mems" statements from the State
Department point an accusing finger
at Congress, warning that branch OF
our Government that unless the
European Recovery Program Is ap-
proved at the earliest possible mo-
ment Italy will fall, The State De-
partment's conception of the situa-
ton seems to be that the rushing
Of consumers goods and raw mate
rials to Italy, possibly before the
election, might turn the scale in
favor of the parties which want to
resist the aggression Of Moscow's
satellites within and outside the
country.
Although our Secretary Of State
Is distinguished soldier who won
fame during the last war as an
excellent tactical planner, he, ap-
pears to share the point Of view of
his present State Department team
that the election battle will turn
around the problem of Italy's eco
nomic reconstruction.
Facts deny this point OF view
Since We day We have sent some
$4,000, 900, 900 worth of food, raw
materials, coal, ETC., to Italy. Our
Ambassador in Rome, James Dunn
has worked overtime contracting not
only the government to which he is
accredited, but the Italian people
themselves. He transformed the
country making speeches in large
and small towns and telling the
Italian people that the United
States has forgotten its past
grievances against the Italians who
were misguided by the Fascist re-
gime and that we are ready and
willing to treat Italy as a real friend
The American Ambas-
sador's words were backed by q
number of moves by this Govern
ment and especially by the people
such as the Friendship Trains. Oul
occupation forces behaved with
warmth toward the people they con.
tacted daily. There is not single
nation in the world toward which
the American Government and the
people have made q
greater showing Of good will and
Reds Make Much Progress
Yet the vast sums already given
to Italy and THIS display of good
will have not prevented the Com
munists, ably led by Moscow's
Palmiro Togliatti, from max
ing much headway, not only in the
industrial sectors of Italy, but also
IN the more conservative and
royalist section in the agricultural
south and in heretofore "reac-
tionary" Sicily.
Today at least per cent Of the
Italian population has acquired
membership in the Communist
Party.
The freedom loving and indNid-
ualistic Italians are not COM
munistic. The reason for the over
success of the Communists
Is easy to understand. The Italians
have just gone through devastating
war which set them back several
They would like to live
under a democratic form of govern
ment and be free to criticize their
government and leaders without
a peoples court" with It's
consequences: A firing squad or
hard labor in q camp in Siberia.
But they realize that formidable
Red Army is on their borders and
Togliatti and his agents have not
tired Of telling them that unless the
government is handed over to them
the partisan army Of 10000 men
will take the government by force.
And in the event that the non-
Communists are strong enough to
resist, there are many more troops
on the Italian border in
Yugoslavia. And II these are not
SUFFICIENT to hand Italy over to the
Communists there is an even
stronger force-the "unconquerable"
Red Army-which is ready to finish
of the job.
Russia Smooths the Way
This type of propaganda-based
on truth-has been spread, over Italy
for the last 10 months. And the
ranks OF the Communists have been
steadily. But the greatest
Increase in the membership of
party occurred after the
treaty with Italy was ratified by the
United States Government and the
.oken force-some $4,000 American
removed from Italy
The evacuation was in order, accord
ing to international law and pro-
cedure. But this was a blow to the
italian government and to the vast
Of non-C Communist citizens.
TO them the departure Of the Amer
can soldiers meant that henceforth
here would be nobody in the country
20 defend Italy against a Communist
,o,,n Araorico voc fhrt,caode of