Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-21
On the Record
Reds Exploit Land Hunger of Italians
AS De Casper Calls for Farm Reform

eral welfare OF country and city
dweller alike, no reform at oil
can 'conceivably be better than o
reform wholly influenced by, the
desire to catch peasant votes. Nor
Is 1t q good way to fight commu-
nism by jumping into o program
likely to demonstrate. eventually.
the, Communist thesis. uotaw So.
The Communists want 10 d.
vide the great estates, especially
the so-called latifundian estates
In Southern Italy-ipto
small holds. That Is not because
they believe In q viable small
holding agricultural economy.
There Is nothing they believe In
less. They believe in theory and
have learned from experience that
the Independent peasant on an
economically viable acreage is
communism's worst enemy.
What they want. therefore, Is
to use land distribution, first to
destroy the landlord class. and
then 50 to distribute the land that
the new owners will starve on It
and can be flocked into collec-
tives. They don't preach collectiv-
ization openly because peasants
dent want to exchange q land
lord for . state bureaucracy.
Problem Of Planning. b.
The italian land problem-like
every other land problems. from
the viewpoint OF the general well
fare, how to get the highest pro-
duction per acre and the most
complete use Of existing and re-
lana resources In o man.
ner compatible with the conserva-
ton and Improvement Ct the soil
and the advancement Of the
standard Of life Of those who work
on 1t and eat from 1t. And tile
agricultural experts Of
the European Recovery Program
are trying TO think effectively and
not in slogans.
In Italy. especially. another fac
tor enters. The greatest and only
surplus Ii people. Fifty
years ago italy was able TO ex-
port people. largely to America,
but today there Is no world mar
ket for human beings. One could
stop here and consider the matter
Of human beings as commodities.
and the strange fact that though
there is q market for italian silks.
there il none for the hands that
make them.
However, we shall be factual.
Any italian land program that Ia
not to do more human damage
than good also must be Judged
by whether or not it tends TO en-
ploy or disemploy people. A pro-
gram which might be excellent
for an underpopulated country
could be disastrous for an over
populated one. such as ITALY.
The italian government. In try
ing to work out q land program
is trying to take &ll these factors
into consideration. Italy has
great estates owned by selfish. I'm
enlightened landlords oblivioua
even to their own long-range tn
terests. It also has great estates
owned BY highly enlightened. 90
cially minded men. There are
small peasants starving on p6nr.
badly treated land. and there are
small peasantas prospering from
the intelligent, intensive cultiva-
ton Of excellent soil.
IN tho cultivation Of land. na-
ture co-operates with those who
cooperate with her. regardless OF
their votes: and she breaks the
necks Of those who violate her
particular laws. This IN what
makes al land reform extremely
difncult.
II happens. however. 70 mat
ter TO the American people. A
good deal Of their money u going
into italy 10 make her capable Of
life.
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