765.00/4–2351: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State 1
4803. This spring’s municipal-provincial election campaign which is now underway and which will culminate May 27 to June 10 with elections in 60 of Italy’s 95 provinces, will involve over two-thirds Ital electorate. (Elections in fall will be relatively anti-climax involving for most part south and islands.) The campaign will be fought not on local issues but on basic issues of Ital participation in Western alignment and of democracy versus Commie totalitarianism.
In view above, it wld be helpful here if Dept and other US agencies keep campaign in mind when considering questions of importance to Italy during coming weeks. Dept will, of course, be aware desirability of lending maximum indirect assistance to democratic parties for example by postponing wherever possible announcement of actions unfavorable to Italy until after June 10 or by announcing favorable actions at strategic moments during campaign.2