Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-30
SceIba 10 End Stay
Here With Dulles Talk
And visitto Congress
BY JOHN v. HORNER

A trip to Congress and a second
round Of conversations with Sec
rotary of State Dulles were on
the schedule today for Prime
Minister Mario Scelba as he
wound up a three-day state visit
to Washington.
Mr.. Scelba, who bespoke his
country's keen interest in East
West conferences during public
appearance yesterday, is leaving
by train tonight for New York.
He will remain there until Sum-
day. when he departs on q trip
TO include Philadelphia. Chicago
and Detroit.
addressing a big National
Press Club audience yesterday,
the staunch Communist
Premier said Italy would be in
terested in attending any East
West conference that goes be-
yond a study of German prob
lens.
He also declared the Western
European Union. which will come
into being with ratification of
the Paris accords, should be re-
garded as a starting point for
strengthening the economic, So
cial and political unity of free
nations on the continent.
Europe's Alternatives
He was apple uded when he
said cooperation and co-ordina-
ton Of effort by the freedom
loving countries are necessary,
for Europe faces either integra-
ton or disintegration.
Again expressing appreciation
10 the United States for gen
erous and spontaneous" aid in
the reconstruction of Italy, Mr.
Scelba reviewed the remarkable
progress achieved by his country
since its defeat in World War II.
Without American aid, he de-
clared, neither Italy nor the rest
Of Europe could have avoided a
major and prolonged calamity. |
If we had not received Amer
lean aid" he said, I'VE could |
not be in a position to announce.
as we can do today, that post
war reconstruction Is an accom-
plished fact and that the italian !
economy has already developed |
well over and above the pre-
war level" |
NATO Cited
He mentioned the Importance /
of the Marshall Plan and the |
effective international co-opera-
ton for the security of peace .
and democracy resulting from
the North Atlantic Pact. He
said the treaty, which is the cor |
nerstone of Italian foreign policy. |
led to the establishment of a
sound mutual defense system.
But Mr.. Scelba said military
defense, alone, is not enough. |
Against the compact align |
ment Of the Iron Curtain coun- |
tries, with its network of mill |
tary and political treaties" he /
warned, I'VE must follow an in
ternational policy of unity and
solidarity"
The Prime Minister went on
10 say that economic and social
solidarity implies recognition Of
the fact that no national econ
omy can survive alone.
1--WE consider the Western
European Union not as a ter
minal but as a starting point |
towards new forms Of union and
Indignation in Europe"
He said the conviction that |
Europe faces either indignation |
or disintegration was the reason
italy became the first nation on |
the continent to ratify the Paris |
agreements.
Reviews Progress
In his review of postwar prog
ress in Italy, Prime Minister
Scelba cited the successful hous-
ing program, solution of the
Trieste problem, land and tax
reforms. He said, however, Italy .
sorely needs large investment of
foreign capital.
He said the anti-democratic
forces in North Italy are steadily .
losing ground but that the situa-
ton in the south still requires
careful watching.