“ITALY’S CRISIS OVER”

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24903, 17 June 1946, Page 5

“ITALY’S CRISIS OVER”

Country Reported Calm KING’S ARRIVAL IN PORTUGAL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ( Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. As fast as it blew up, Italy’s political crisis has passed over,” reports the Rome correspondent of the Associated Press. “On the streets of Rome to-day few Italians even talked %bout the dramatic sequence of events capped by King Tmberto’s flight into exile in Portugal. “Not a single disorder was reported throughout Italy. The country, in deference to the wishes of the Minister of the Interior (Signor Romita) refrained from celebrations of the King’s departure or the de facto advent of the Republic.” The Prime Minister (Signor de Gasperi), in a broadcast yesterday afternoon, applied to the people to support the Republic, regardless of how they voted in’ the elections. “The procedure in the election and referendum was clearly defined and accepted by all,” he said. “AU precautions were taken to prevent dissension and everyone was allowed to vote as he wished without pressure from public authority. Now the Supreme Court has proclaimed the result, a notable majority for a Republic.” Signor de Gasperi declared that the Government had tried to find a middle path. “Why did the King’s counsellors advise him to utter such bitter words to the nation?” he asked. “This last act of the Monarchy seems to stand out like the threat of a national catastrophe.” He added that Italy’s task of reconstruction began immediately. The Republic was to be founded on hard work and on liberty of men and religious expression.

King Umberto at Cintra Kang Umberto arrived in Lisbon by air yesterday morning. He looked very glum and refused to speak. Before leaving Barcelona he told a friend: “I wept when I left Rome.” The only people present at the Lisbon airport to meet him were • the Italian Minister and the Italian Air Attache. A guard of honour and Portuguese officials arrived too late. King Umberto immediately drove to Cintra, a famed beauty spot outside Lisbon,* where Queen Marie Jose and her children are slfeying. The Lisbon correspondent of the Associated Press, quoting a person close to King Umberto’s suite, says that the flight from Italy does not mean that the King accepts the voters’ verdict as final. “In saving King Umberto’s life we saved the Monarchist cause.” said ( this person. The King’s party included Marshal Graziani and General Cassiani, the Duchess of Sorrentino, the Duke of Dismetti, and the Duke of Turconi, two private policemen and secretaries. The Rome radio at noon broadcast for the first time King Umberto’s proclamation. The text had previously been withheld from the Italian people.