The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1948. TRIESTE AND THE ELECTIONS IN ITALY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22593, 23 March 1948, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1948. TRIESTE AND THE ELECTIONS IN ITALY

T HE announcement that Britain, the United States and France have recommended that Trieste should be returned to Italy is bound to widen the schism between the western Powers, on the one hand, and Russia and her satellites on the other. At first thought, this course seems a bold proposal on the part of the western democracies, but it is evidently considered that the international situation is already so disturbing that still another issue which creates dissension will make little difference to the fundamental feeling today and, especially in any matter advantageous to Italy, may, in point of fact, strengthen the position of the west. Speaking for France, the Foreign Minister, M. Bidault, says the move is necessary to keep the peace between Italy and Yugoslavia, but the Italian Communist leader, Signor Togliatti, believes it is an attempt to drag Italy into a war atmosphere and soxv discord between Italy and Yugoslavia. The Moscow radio says: “The most important aim is to force the Italian electors to vote for reactionary parties which are the agents of the United States.” Although it is certain that the western nations will use no force upon the Italian electors, Moscow is probably right when it draws attention to the bearing the issue will have on the Italian general election next month. No effort has been made to hide the apprehension with which this poll is being awaited. It may be wondered why a Communist victory is regarded as possible in a country predominantly Roman Catholic. The answer seems to be the willingness of Signor Nenni, the majority Socialist leader, and his followers to merge their electoral identity with the Communists.

The Socialists’ pre-election congress showed clearly the influence of these members who want the party to act jointly with the Communists. Fewer than one per cent of the delegates supported a proposal that the party should model its tactics on those of Western Europe's Socialists. This places Italy in a peculiar position. The Communists alone would not be strong enough to win the election, but, with the aid of Nenni’s Socialists, they stand a chance of victory. Once that was achieved, the Socialists would realise too late the danger to which they had exposed themselves and their country. What has just happened in Czechoslovakia could also happen in Italy, with distressing consequences for the Church and for democracy.

Apparently the western Powers, only too well aware of which camp would apply the “force” in the final issue, believes the peril too great to he risked without some special effort to stabilise majority Italian feeling in favour of M. de Gasperi’s Christian Democrats, who head the present Government. There will also be some idea of strengthening the hand of the minority Socialist group who believe, with good reason, that Socialist collaboration with communism may mean the end of any truly independent and effective Italian socialism. Altogether it should he realised that the election poses anxious questions both for the Italians and their democratic supporters in the west.