765.001/7–2651: Despatch
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
No. 220
Subject: Attitude of the Italian Government Toward Communism
[Page 634]In amplification of my telegram No. 309 of July 18, 1951,1 there follows a summary of the discussions on the subject of Communism between Prime Minister De Gasperi and members of his Cabinet and members of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the latter’s visit to Rome.2
Senator Wiley said that all were agreed that the great threat came from Soviet Russia. It was therefore natural that we were concerned at the number of Communists in Italy. Recognizing that all over the world Communists were attempting to infiltrate themselves into positions of power, he wished to ask the Prime Minister what the situation was in Italy.
The Prime Minister replied that although the Government had made a great effort he had to admit the seriousness of the situation reflected by the fact that the number of Communist votes had not diminished. He referred to the efforts that had been made to combat Communism by improving social conditions but pointed out that in the absence of large-scale immigration the task was very difficult. The Government had undertaken such measures as land reform and was continuing this program, but up to the present so far as votes were concerned the result had been to arouse the opposition of the land owners but not to acquire the support of those who would benefit from the program. The Prime Minister also frankly admitted that post war errors had been made in dealing with the Communists. They had mistakenly thought that by working with them it would be possible to win them over. He wryly referred to the fact that he had himself formed a government with Communist participation. They now realized that it was impossible to work with the Communists; on the other hand he said he could give assurances that the Government was in a position to deal with any attempt of the Communists to stir up revolt.
Senator McMahon referred to the fact that there were many Italians in his state and that almost without exception they made excellent democratic citizens who fought valiantly to defend democracy. It was therefore clear that liking for Communism was not in the Italian blood. How therefore would the Prime Minister account for the fact that Communism had such an appeal in Italy? The Senator also asked why it was that there were more Communists in north Italy where conditions were much more prosperous than in the south where the Communists had not made much progress. [Page 635] He wished to know what the Prime Minister thought could be done to combat the Communism.
The Prime Minister agreed that Italians were not by nature Communist. He explained that more Communists succeed in the north by the fact that the workers there had bettered their lot since the war in comparison with the southern Italians and they mistakenly thought that by being Communists they could protect their hold on this greater prosperity. He explained this by saying that after the war the northern factories had vast numbers of surplus workmen on their payrolls. The Communists had succeeded in identifying themselves with the movement to prevent employers from discharging these excess workmen.
The Prime Minister said he thought there were two approaches to the problem. One was a greater propaganda of ideas. The second was greater severity in dealing with the Communists. He explained that democracy was a young and somewhat delicate plant in Italy and they could not go outside the constitution in attempting to suppress the Communists without risking the destruction of democracy. Nevertheless there were many measures the Government could take and this was one of the subjects involved in the current governmental crisis. He felt certain that the new Cabinet would agree to take more energetic action to suppress Communism.
Senator Smith inquired whether the very fact of Communist concentration in the industrial north was not a threat in time of emergency.
The Prime Minister replied that he did not think the Communists were in a position there to do much harm. Many of the most important industrial cities had elected democratic administrations in the recent elections. Moreover the Italian police force was now one of the best in Europe and authorities in other countries were coming to Italy to study the Italian police system. Moreover the Minister of Defense had forces at his disposal to deal with the problem if this should become necessary.
The Minister of Defense Pacciardi elaborated on this and pointed out that the real danger came only from the hard core Communists who were not numerous. Most of the Italian Communists were more interested in jobs than in serving Moscow and had shown themselves willing to work on defense orders. He also cited the example of Leghorn where the United States is establishing a Line of Communications base and where the Communists had been tearing up their Communist cards publicly in the hope of securing employment. He also cited the fact that although there were undoubtedly Communists in the army, army units had never failed to carry out [Page 636] their orders even when called upon to suppress Communist instigated riots or demonstrations.
Minister
- Telegram 309 briefly summarized the conversation which is more fully recorded in this despatch. (765.00/7–1851)↩
- Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made a visit to several European capitals in July of 1951, including Rome and Belgrade. For a report of the visit to Belgrade, see telegram 104 from Belgrade, Document 916.↩