Italians Expected To Vote Against Communists.

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1948, Page 5

Italians Expected To Vote Against Communists.

(N.Z.P.A.—

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. , LONDON, April 16. All reports from correspondents in Italy have coiitinued dtiring the past week to foi'ecast that the italians will return the Chi'istian Democrats to power in the general elections 011 Sunday, and that the country will stay within the Western European sphere of ■ influenee. "There is every sign that the Christian Democrats will win by a comfortable margin,M says the Rome eorrespondent of the Daily Telegraph. ' "It is unlikely that the iron cnrtain wiii elang down this time," says the News-Chroniele's correspondent. "Recent events ih (Jzechoslovakia, inchiding the death of Jan Mas-.ryk, and in Ti'ieste have not helped the Bocial- ( 'otnmnnists. " Diseussing the general situation the Daily Telegraph 5s correspondent says: "ltaly's political frusti'ation, which has lasted for' a quartei' oi' a century, reaches a it'esh climax on Sunday when only a niinority of the 28,000,000 electors will vote for what they want. The majority — and there is now no doubt that it will be a majority — will vote on something they do not want — ('oihmunism. "Each of the anti-Communist parties has a positive policy and each has at least a handful of enthusiasts. But it is not upon onthusiasm for a positive policy that they now rely for sup^ort. Their electlon propaganda has been predominantly negative. From platform and honrding each proclaims : ' Vote for us and eseape Communism,4 "The Left has a policy simpie and clear: land for the peasants, higher pay and factory control fOr workers. Though many are shi'ewd enough to doubt that Comtniinism really means these things they are powerful slogans in a country where the rara! and ifidtistrial masses are wretchedly poor. "Behind the Christian Democrats led by the present Prime Minister (Signor de Gasperi) is the moral influpnce of the Chureh. Working for this party and in vnrying degreos for all other antiCominunist parties ar^e the Mftrshall Plan. tln, Western Powers' gesture on Trieste and their ehampionship of Ttaly's admission to the T'nited NatioiiS, ' ' Tlje overwhelming argument, however, is the fear — a himgry people 's fear— of losing American breacl; a possessive people 's fear of losing what property they have or hope to liave; a proud people 's fear of Russian domination; »a weary people 's fear of fresh tumults. "This negative character of the contest dei'eats any attempt at r detailed foreeast of the result. The most that can be said with confid , ence is that the Christian Democrats will obtain the largest mtm her of votes. The next will be tlie Popular Demoeratic Front, an alliance of Communists and Leftwing Soeialists dominated by the former. The rest will he very far behind." The ' News-Chroniclfi's correspondent says that -women being 54 per eent. of the electorate- hold the balance. "Tlie 75,000 parish priests are trynig to influence them. The Cliurch has issued its ' veto. But Commimist husbands and the threat of a famine in Communist Italy are more important arguments for thousands of home keepers. "The Communists tell the farmers, especially in the south, that the Marshall Plan will cut the profit from their crops — 'expected to be a bumper t-his year. But the cunning villagers^ whose children wear snappy American outfits," don't l'gally believei. .The country folk in the rieh north have made nioney and want to safeguard it." .Of the 97 parties the main ones with the votes polled. in 1946 are : Christian Democrats, 8,000,000; Popular . Demoeratic Front, oi' which the Social Communists pplled 9,000,000; the Socialist Dnity or Moderate Socialists, who recently split- from the Socialists and may poll 1.000,000 or more; the National Bloc, including the Riglit Wing, nearly 3,000,000, the Repiiblica'ii, 1,000,000; the Italian Socialist. movement formed less than a year ago and alleged to be neo-Fascist, the Action Party and Labour Democrats, which merged

with the Popular Demoeratic Front, about 500)000.