FEAR IN ITALY OF OUTBREAK BY COMMUNISTS

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 5

FEAR IN ITALY OF OUTBREAK BY COMMUNISTS

Rec. 10.5) LONDON, April 23 The Italian Government in spite of their election victory, are still nervous of a possible outbreak by the defeated Popular Front, and, as a precaution, the ban on open air public meetings is to continue says a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent at Rome. Even the Christian Democrats will not be allowed to celebrate their triumpn except in closed halls. Uniforms of any kind are also forbidden.

Communists Arrested with Arms in Three Places (Rec 11.0) LONDON, April 23. The Associated Press Rome correspondent said: Last night (Thursday) carabiner! rushed to Castelli Romani area, near Rome, and they arrested several Communists on charges of preparing punitive expeditions. The soldiers found a number of assorted weapons. Terrified, residents in the area had barrricaded themselves in the homes and in the phurches. “Skirmishes and arrests of Communists have- also been reported in Artena, Russiano, near Naples, and Trieste.

A large crowd attacked and wrecked the Communist headquarters in Terilizzi last night after a fight between the Christian Democrat Mayor, Mr Mario Ventola, and a Communist deputy, Mr Mario AsCarabinieri and Communists, fought senato.

a post-election gun battle at Lusciano, near Naples, in which one Communist was wounded. Five were arresrted.

The Communists, who had armed themselves from a secret dump, tried to set. fire to the local church and at-' tempted to blow up the municipal buildings. The police seized hand grenades, pistols and about 500 rounds of ammunition.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the French Foreign Minister (M. Bidault) in a congratulatory message to Signor de Gasperi, says: “This is a great dav for Europe.” The lesson of the election ,M. Bidault said, would ue retained “bv the great mass of men who want to remain within the frontiers of freedom.”

M. Bidault added: “Th P result, -of the election constitutes a light which shines on our common path, and. together. we will pursue the task cf reconciliation and co-operation among fre P men.

The Pope’s Comment

ROME, April 22

“The entire people have given proof of their grave sense of civic duty, and the skies of Italy are brighter with hope,” the Pope said in a statement on the Italian elections The elections had quickened the confidence of Europe and the whole world.

The Pope said he had received messages from every continent telling how the people had spontaneously played that God should “come to the defence of His cause against error and injustice.” In Rome to-day the Premier, Mr de Gasperi, said: “Italy wants to collaborate in the Brussels Western Union Pact.”