711.551/7–2552: Telegram

No. 728
The Ambassador in Italy (Bunker) to the Department of State1

secret

25. In my recent talk with the PriMin2 I complimented him on the handling of Gen Ridgway’s visits3 and particularly on the firm measures he had taken to prevent any disorder on the part of the Communists. He replied that it was necessary to take a firm hand, and he said that in this connection certain laws were necessary for the perfection of the democratic system. He said these included the anti-Fascist law which has been passed, the labor law, the law for the regulation of the press, and the Polivalente law, which he described as intended to give authority for handling emergencies. He said that unfortunately he was not in the position of Mr. Pinay in Fr, who had acted against the Communists under a law which he found had been passed in 1848. He said that in Italy the Court of Cassation had held that laws passed prior to the new constitution were invalid. Consequently it was necessary now to pass legislation to implement the provisions of the constitution and to perfect and defend the democratic system.

He remarked in passing that there was one important difference between the MSI (neo Fascists) and the Communists, i.e., that the former, who appealed largely to the youth of the country, wld unquestionably fight on our side if war came, whereas this was not true of the Communists. I indicated to the PriMin that I wld like to discuss the Communist problem further with him in the near future.

Bunker
  1. Repeated to Paris.
  2. Bunker talked with De Gasperi on June 28. Their discussion that day concerning the Italian labor law was reported separately in telegram 27 from Rome, July 2. (865.06/7–2552) Their discussion of possible shipments of ball bearings and rolling stock equipment by Italy to Eastern European countries was reported in telegram 26 from Rome, July 2. (449.659/7–252)
  3. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, who had succeeded Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, on May 30, 1952, visited Italy June 16–19.