865.00/4–147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
696. While fears of violence on Sunday, reported in my 683 of March 29,1 did not materialize, (see mytel 692, March 311) Vatican’s concern is a reflection of general preoccupation over increase in political violence and disorder in Italy during last few weeks, especially after Togliatti’s reference on March 11 in the Constituent Assembly to the possible need of “direct action” on the part of the Communist Party if certain Communist demands were not met (see mytel 692 of March 31). It is also recalled that on February 16 Basso,2 Secretary of the Socialist Party, violently added that the Basso Socialists were [Page 878] not above resorting to illegal action in order to further their ends if the elements of reaction should force the issue (see my A–288, February 183). More recently Saragat’s organ L’Umanita on March 29 charged that “Red Squadristi” were conducting a campaign of “ideological and physical terror” [to?] prevent the growth of Saragat’s party, especially in the region of Emilia and urged its members to defend themselves and their organizations energetically. Umanita stated that the Saragat socialists had decided to abandon their policy of passive resistance because the situation had become intolerable. (The Embassy has received from reliable source information to the effect that the Italian police had intercepted orders from Moscow directing Italian Communists organizations to commence disorders immediately in Italy.)
To give the Dept a few isolated examples of recent act[s] of political violence the following incidents are set forth:
- (1)
- A Chamber of Commerce building was burned down several days ago in Bari. The suspected perpetrator was lynched and mobs forthwith devastated the UQ, Demochristians, Monarchist Union and other premises in Bari. Corriere Delia Nazione and other newspapers labeled the Bari incident as result of direct action.
- (2)
- About a week ago a monarchist meeting in Rome was forcibly broken up by a gang of thugs generally suspected of being Communists or Communist sympathizers.
- (3)
- On March 14 Franco de Agazio, Milan editor of a weekly described in the press as pro-Fascist, was assassinated. The Rome press also linked this murder with Togliatti’s direct action. (See my A–445, March 193).
- (4)
- See Embassy’s 582, March 183 relative to acts of violence against certain deputies of the Constituent Assembly.
Repeated Moscow 35.