765.001/8–351: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
595. In a conversation with PriMin today he told me new Government1 is formulating plans to conduct vigorous campaign against Communists. He said he has in mind laws to be applied against excessive and subversive attacks against Government by certain unbridled press: plans for providing work for unemployed: assistance to newly elected Democratic municipal administrations in the north, and plans for accelerated emigration.
[Page 640]He said that another point in this comprehensive plan is a new law with respect to activities of trade unions. He said on this however, he was having some difficulty as Pastore and executives of CISL were objecting to depriving Government employees of right to strike. He said that in this regard we might be helpful as he knew American trade unions were encouraging and supporting the Free Trade Union Confederation here and American influence might be helpful in getting around this difficulty. I asked if there were any possibility of compromise on this point and he said yes there wld be but the difficulty was to find the formula. Adverting again to the general anti-Communist program, I said that sometimes in US when we had a difficult situation which required perhaps some emergency consideration, a special committee was appointed to deal with subject and to obtain support of all functions of Government in dealing with matter. He said he thought that was a good idea to which he would give immediate consideration. I told him that our people at home, both in the Government and outside of it, were tremendously interested in this question, and that if there were any ways in which we could be helpful we would appreciate being so informed in order that we might give consideration to whether we would be in a position to assist. He said that in the meantime he would let me know whom we could deal with on this subject and who would be in a position to keep us informed as to their plans of action.
- De Gasperi’s Cabinet resigned on July 16, 2 days after Pella’s resignation, following severe criticism of his fiscal policies by the left wing of the Christian Democratic Party. Although De Gasperi also tendered his resignation, President Einaudi convinced him to accept an invitation to form a new Cabinet. On July 26 De Gasperi announced the appointment of his seventh Cabinet. For an analysis of the new De Gasperi government see the memorandum by Bonbright, August 13, infra.↩