865.00/6–1847: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
1613. Avanti (Socialist) carried this morning brief article to effect that report relative to organization of partisans movements in northern Italy had not been denied by Ministry of Interior. Headline stated that partisans were against the “black market”. Tempo carried same item adding that center of movement was in province of Asti and its objective was to demonstrate against present government. Messagero article on subject referred to movement of opposition to government which parties of extreme left were endeavoring to develop and mentioned speeches inciting armed revolt on part of partisans of Teramo province. In line with above, we have been informed recently by young Socialist that several Communist friends of his had told him that they were bringing out their arms from places of concealment and were getting ready for any eventuality in light of advent of fourth De Gasperi Government. He expressed view, however, that Communists would not push violence tactics to point of civil war on national scale.
[Page 924]There have recently been reports, often from reliable sources, of large potential military and paramilitary formations under Communist control in Italy, especially the north. There is no doubt that Communist Party has military organization based on former Communist controlled partisan formations which are now organized into the ANPI (National Association of Italian Partisans) which is completely Communist controlled. Reported leader of this organization is Luigi Longo, the so-called Minister of War of the party, who was one of the organizers of the International Brigade in Spain. The number of these armed Communist elements has been placed as high as 150,000 men. The Embassy believes that this figure is too high insofar as actually armed elements are concerned. It is of opinion that there are in neighborhood of 50,000 trained men equipped with light weapons and sidearms at disposition of CPI.1 This does not include, however, unarmed or semi-armed men who might rally to Communist banner in case of insurrection. As example, Embassy has recently received confidential memorandum from a highly reliable source concerning Communist semi-military formations in northern Italy. A copy of this memorandum has been forwarded to Department.2 It indicates that there are in the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma and Bologna, so-called “Red zone” of north Italy, a total of about 10,000 armed Communist elements, already in active service which, in case of insurrection or direct Communist action, would be supplemented by about 40,000 men organized in the Garibaldi partisan brigades. The 10,000 represent cream of insurrectionary forces, the shock troopers, who would be called upon to undertake the most hazardous tasks as well as to liquidate leaders of opposition.
It is of course quite possible that rumors relative to “direct action” on part of Italian Communists are spread purposely by CPI in order to put country in state of jitters and with view to intimidating the present government. Although we would not be surprised to see an increase in the near future in political violence (a separate telegram is being prepared on this subject), in CPI inspired strikes and in all manner of nuisance tactics aimed at embarrassing government, we are not inclined to believe that Communists will resort to violent methods so long as they feel they may gain control of government through legal means.