Evening star., 1948-04-18
e Million More in Aid
rs Granted 10 Italy
From ERP Funds
By John N. Hightower
A,sariot.d pres, S.oH Writey

The United States gave Italian
voters last-minute reminder yes
terday of the Importance of Ameri-
can aid to Italy by announcing new
food and coal shipments to that
country totaling s8,102,000.
High diplomatic officials predicted
meanwhile that the Communist bid
for power in the Italian elections
today and tomorrow would be de-
feated by the voters.
officials were more optimistic
about this than they have been at
any time in recent months. They |
were by no means sure, however,
In their talks with reporters that
victory won against the Com
munists at the polls by Italian Pre-
mier Alcide de Gasperi would in
fact be accepted by the Communists.
There is apprehension here that
the Communists might try to grab
power through force This could
happen either around the middle
Of this week when the vote becomes
known, assuming a Communist re-
-yersal, or else during the parlia-
mentary reorganization of the gov
ernment beginning May 8.
Total Aid Now Billions.
&. Yesterdays announcement of new
aid to Italy was only a drop in the
vast stream of goods and supplies
which has been poured into the
strategic former enemy country
since the end of the war. Ameri-
can Government officials said the
total of United States aid is now
about 00o,0O0,000.
The announcement apparently
served the purpose Of providing
. Italians with fresh evidence. if any
was needed, of the existence OF
American help and its continuance
:. ur der the European Recovery Pro-
gram. The aid was announced by
Recovery Administrator Paul G.
Hoffman.
Mr.. Hoffman's Office said it COW
cred emergency help for Italy, |
France and the Netherlands in this
manner:
- s11,308,000 OF aid to France, ST.
014,O00 of aid to the Netherlands
and S8,1020OO of aid to Italy in
cluding s6,000000 in coal and the
in wheat flour, soya flour
--and rolled oats.
= One of Series of Moves.
= Whether or not Mr.. Holman
--ehose the timing of the announce
-ment to have some influence In
Italy on the eve of the elections,
diplomats suggested that it would
serve as a reminder. Mr.. Hoffman
has announced that he intends TO
run the recovery program on non
political basis.
Actually the latest development
In American help Is more than over
shadowed by series OF American
-poicv moves which were definitely
made with an eye on strenthening
nti-Communist forces in Italy.
These moves included inSistence
of the United States, Britain and
: France on Italian membership in
: the United Nations (Which Russia
: vetoed and the Western power pro-
: posal that Trieste be returned to
: Italy (Which Russia turned down.
. Other factors are an American
: warning of several weeks ago that
"a Communist Italy would not re-
g ceive Marshall Plan aid and warn
ling that italian Communists could
mot come to the United States. The
~most basic influence, however, is
said to be the long and traditional
friendship between the two nations.
Setback for Reds Seen.
The Italian Communists have re-
-lied mainly on the argument that
..if Italy wants peace she must vote
In Communist government because
comfy such government can adjust
-Italy's relations with the advancing
tide of Eastern European Commu-
nism.
Some American officials feared
two or three months ago that the
Communicated wing Socialist bloc
might run up vote of As per cent
or so. They now say they believe
that the total vote will not exceed
as per cent. One official said, for
a round number guess you could
figure the Communist bloc vote
probably at about 80 per cent"
If the American estimates are
correct, the result of the elections
will be a terrific setback for Soviet |
Communism in its struggle to ex-
pand westward.
Timing Critical for Soviet.
1t is the timing of the election
as much as anything else which .
makes it critical for the Russians.
Already, they know that the
United States is preparing to go
through with European Recovery
Program on big scale. They know
too that this country is getting
ready to back the nations of West
ern Europe with some evidence OF
military power. Unless the recovery |
effort is a complete flop, Europe