The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-06-17

HAZEL
EYES
BY Hazel Brunnon
Rome, Italy
June 4.

of American Democracy through
the Marshall Plan enjoyed an over
whelming or decisive victory in the
April elections in Italy had better
take another look into what actual
ly happened in this historic poll.
The Marshall Plan undoubtedly
influenced some support here for
the winning Christian Democrats
through the general opinion that
American aid would not be forth
coming to a Communist govern
ment in Italy.
But the tremendous and determin-
ing influence in the Italian cleo
ton was the Catholic Church head
ed by Pope Plus XII himself.
OF the approximate As million
people in Italy only 100000 are
non-C catholic. About half Of the lat
ter are Jewish.
The Catholic Church under the
direction of the Pope himself exert
ed every influence possible to in
sure the success of the Christian
Democrats at the polls. In addition
to a strongly worded statement
from His Holiness to his people
every effort to get out the vote was
made. This resulted in the largest
vote ever to be cast in this coun-
try. The church made an open and
definite stand and won a decisive
victory.
Even with the influence OF the
church, however, the Communists
still received about eight million OF
the "a million votes cast.
Together with the Nenni (Radi-
cal Leftwing) Socialists the Com
munists hold about 200 seats in the
574-member Chamber of Deputies.
They make a lot of noise and are
certain to create a great deal OF
trouble for the government headed
by Premier Alcide De Gasperi. Their
nuisance value will be great, If
nothing else.
This was proved on the opening
session Of the new Parliament
which I attended today.
Premier De Gasperi attempted at
this session to present to the Par
lament the program which his
government would try to enact.
During the ninety minutes it took
him to read his speech he was con-
stantly heckled and jeered by the
Communists and Nenni Socialists
who shouted insults in the worst
italian tradition.
At n time in his speech the
Prime Minister was silenced for
seven minutes waiting for the Cham
Der to be Quilted after an exchange
of insults between a Communist
and a Christian Democrat. The
Christian Democrat yelled to a
Communist that he had sold out to
Russia whereupon the Communist
called him a dirty bastard. After
this they rushed at each other and
for a while it looked like the whole
Chamber was going to become in
volved in a first class exchange
of blows. All they did was push each
other around a bit.
Premier DE Gasperi told his Par
lament that the governments pro-
gram was based upon the Marshall
Plan and that Italy should be CRATE
full for "our American friends" at
which point the Communists and
Socialist cohorts Kissed and booed
in eloquent fashion.
In addition to saying American
money would help build a new Italy
Qthly is getting $165, 100000 this
year of which $45, 000, 900 is an
outright gift), Mr.. De Gasperi out
lined a large program Of social re-
forms including land reclamation
irrigation and hydro-electric de-
velopment as the first steps toward
increasing agricultural production
and breaking up huge landed es-
tates: promised to disarm private
organizations; warned Communist
dominated labor unions that he
would regulate the right to strike
and said strict anti-inflation con-
trolls would be continued. All of
these things, he emphasized, hinge
on the European Recovery Pro-
gram which dominates our foreign
policy"
The governments program was
received with placid approval by the
majority of the Deputies. The only
time they showed any real enthu-
siam was when De Gasperi mention
ed the return of Trieste to Italy.
The Deputies stood and cheered and
the packed galleries ~applauded with
everyone joining in except the Com
munists, Leftwing Socialists and the
press gallery. Even two of the Left
wing sheepishly and silently stood
up.
Giovanni Gronchi, president of the
Chamber, rang his silver bell and
sternly reminded the galleries that
applause was not permitted.
Altogether this opening session Of
the Italian government was a per-
feet model of how government
should not be conducted.
A newspaper friend with whom
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