Evening star., 1960-02-07
BY ROBERT NEVILLE
WORLDWIDE Press Service

= ROME.-Rarely has an event
stirred up such controversy In
Italy as President Giovanni Gron-
chi's trip to the Soviet Union. The
nation is split right down the
middle over the visit, mostly on its
consequences.
Not only is the Presidents Mos
COW sojourn the topic Of heated
conversation in political circles. 1t
has also been the subject of ex-
ceptionally strong editorials, both
pro and con. All sorts Of posters.
the Italians favorite method of
waging political warfare. have ap-
peared in support or violent con-
demnation Of the trip.
The government of Prime Min
lister Antonio Segni has been put
in a very embarrassing position by
this episode. Apparently, arrange
mentS for the Moscow visit we're
well advanced before the Prime
Minister was completely aware
70 what was happening. Most re-
luctantly and with many mis-
givings, the Segni Cabinet finally
agreed to give the necessary ap-
proval.
Meanwhile, the President him.
self became Ill and had to post
pone for a month his first date
with the Russians. On the very
day he was first supposed to have
left for Moscow, however, a most
significant event took place. Car
dinal Alfredo Ottaviani, head Of
the Holy Office Of the Vatican,
chose to make a speech attacking
those who would extend the hand
Of friendship to people who make
a profession Of undermining the
Catholic Church and religion in
general.
Attack on Gronchi
It took no diagrams to make
clear this twin attack on the un-
named Italian President and the
Russian Communists. LeftiSt dep
uties in Parliament promptly
labeled it interference in Italian
politics.
But to underline his point. Car
dinal Ottaviani also recalled that
when Adolf Hitler came to Rome
before the last war, Pope Plus TX
showed what he thought OF the
German Fuehrer by giving him a
truly royal snub. He closed the
Vatican and trotted OF to the
Papal summer home.
The plain implication Of this
bit of history by Cardinal Ottavi-
ami was that the present Pope,
John XIII. might well repeat
this gesture should President
Gronchi have any notion of in
viting Nikita KhruShchev to visit
Rome.
Here, indeed, is the crux Of the
matter. In all such state visits
as Mr.. Gronchi's there must be
provision for return calls. But
who is going to return the Gronchi
call?
The Segni government has been
gently but persistently limiting
that USSR President Klementy
Voroshilov, an ageing and color
less flgurehead, is President
Gronchi's opposite number. But
the Italians also know that Nikita
Khrushchev rates himself both
head Of the Russian government
and chief of state. They also
know that he likes very much to
travel. In case the irrepressible
Mr.. K took 1t into his head to
repay the Gronchi visit, what
could be done?
Khrushchev Tour Hit
A Khrushchev tour around Italy
would unquestionably be the sig
nal for really massive demonstra-
tions by the highly organized and
well-disciplined Italian Commu-
nists. They were able to marshal
more than 6 million voters in the
last election here and could prob
ably draw out even more for
real curiosity like Mr.. Khrushchev.
The last thing the Vatican
wants is the spectacle Of Mr..
Khrushchev parading up and
down what the Church regards
as its own backyard.