ITALIAN CEREMONIES HELD UP

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1946, Page 8

ITALIAN CEREMONIES HELD UP

DECLARATION OF A REPUBLIC POSTPONED Received Sundav, 7.30 p.m. ROME, June 8. The Supreme Court President has announced that the ceremonies proclaiming Italy a Republic have been postponed until next week because ' ' some oificial piebiseite returns have not yet arrived from the provinces. " The head of the Monarchial Union, Signor Benedette, send a letter to the Chief Allied Commissioner, RearAdmiral Stone, deelaring that the election was a fraud and demanding Aiiieu inspection of the returns before the Supreme Court 's proclamation. Police, swinging short black clubs, broke up a Monarcliist demonstration in the centre of Rome, says the Associated Press' Rome correspondent. About 200 demonstrators paraded through the crovcded streets shouting, "Long live the King'!" and "Dovvn with the Republic!" Fist fights with Republicans developed before the police intervened. Pqlice preeautions against demonstrations have been redoubJed. All the approaches to the Palace, where King Uniberto is still in residence, are cordoned oif. ® The Portuguese Poreign Office has announced that King. Cmberto and family will go to Portugal, says Reuter's Lisbon correspondent. All officials have so far maintained a strict reserve on the question. The Pope gave an audience to King Cmberto and his entourage. Axter wards the Royai partv lcft the Vatican ! by back streets to avoid Monarcliist j demonstrators who were gathered in St. [Peter's Square. Tlie Rome radio broadcast appeals ! t'or cairn, and tlie Ministry of the Inj t erior niade an annouJicement eontraj dicting rumours that the Allies intended to intervene and re-open the referendum. Police and troops are patrolling the Naples streets following the explosion I of a hand grenade outside police headI quarters Jast night, when one Monarchj ist was ldlled and eight injured. The | grenade was allegedly thrown by one of | a group of 400 Monarchists wlio marched to headquarters demanding arms. The police dispersed them. | Leading citizens of Naples, the scene ; of two days' unrest and grenade tlirow1 ing, sumnioned a meeting following re , ports that southern Italiau deputies ; were about to proclaini that, because . ihe constitution was being changed, the i ar-t of uniou between the former kingdoin of Naples and the remainder of i Italy, would be nulli/ied. After the meeting appeals for cairn were broadcast by moderate monarchists.