The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1948. LESSON FROM ITALIAN ELECTIONS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14653, 23 April 1948, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1948. LESSON FROM ITALIAN ELECTIONS

To have had its own supporters refer to its effect on themselves as "an oppressive and soul-killing feeling of inferiority" is surely the strongest indictment of Communism that has yet been spoken in any country still free from its' fetters. Reports from Italy indicate that, following the Communist reverse at the polls on Sunday, there is likely to be a marked falling away of "fellow-travellers" from the party. In discussing in'this column a few days ago, the question raised by a correspondent as to the difference between Socialism and Communism, it was pointed out that, in the long run, it was not any particular political theory that counted, but the working out of that theory. The truth of this has 1 been borne out in Italy, where there have developed three different parties, or sub-divisions of parties, each allegedly drawing its political faith from the same original source. By what might, at first appear a somewhat strange anomaly, we have on the one hand, the independent and anti-Communist Socialists, led by Signor Saragat, supporting a Christian Democrat government, and on the other, the so-called Popular Front composed of straight-out Communists, organised and led by emissaries of Russia, and supported by a section of the Socialist Party under Signor Nenni. A further break-away of some of Signor Nenni's followers, led by a former. Socialist Minister who has, all along, been unhappy about this unholy alliance, is now indicated, as a direct result of the set-back at the polls. The author of the movement, whose words were quoted above, is' able to look further ahead than the majority of Communist "fellow-travellers." He sees that political extinctionjs inevitable unless they part company with the discredited Communists. There is a lesson for New Zealand in the Italian elections. As the Prime Minister said in Rome on Wednesday night, the victory of the Christian Democrats was not only a political victory. It was a victory for the common sense of the Italian people. We, in New Zealand pride ourselves on our common sense. We also have'genuine Socialists who, misguided as they may appear, must be given credit for sincerity in their desire to achieve their purpose by democratic means. In'their ranks however, there is an element with definite leanings towards the Communis 1 !, faith. If these people have eyes to see, they must realise that unless they follow the example set for them by their "fellow-travellers" in Italy, they too will suffer "an oppressive and soul-killing feeling of inferiority" and ultimately disappear off the political map.