The United Front in Italy
Antonini, Luigi
The United Front in Italy By Luigi Antonini THE relations between die Socialist and Communist Parties should not be examined in the abstract. They must be viewed from a practical viewpoint _»nd...
...jtne reorganized unions, their influence isigreat...
...It would be neither just nor sound to exclude these forces from a shore snd responsibility in th* rebuilding of Europe...
...Italians and Frenchmen feel "an imperative necessity for unity," but events are proving that while the Communists mouth slogans about national unity, they are actually disrupters...
...The inadequacy of relief, the black market, inflation, the slowness of the purge, the reluctance to .turn over the administration mors rapidly to the Bonomi Government, the lark of a positive democratic program for the solution of social problems—all this tends to encourage criticism of the western democracies...
...In dosing, 1st ma stress again: In the United States, there is no reason for the organised labor movement and other democratic liberal forces to accord any recognition to or enter into any partnership with ths Communist Party and its sundry front outfits...
...The war-weary people demand of the left-wing parties a united front...
...In eastern Poland the Communists hsve captured a section of the PPS, and it will not be long before the Polish Workers Party (Communist) will have "organic unity with the Polish Socialist Psrty" in the areas controlled by the Red Army...
...The question' of a united front with the Communists anywhere should be considered, not solely on the basis of the immediate concrete conditions, and certainly not 'abstractly, but in the light of accumulated experience over two decades...
...Of course, he also **d the moral support of present-day...
...Here we find the Communist Parties growing in influence and included in the governments now being set up...
...but ¦nspicion of Britain's intentions is more widespread *»an distrust of Russia or of the U.S.A...
...They are doing their utmost to build up the Communist forces as a dual power, often defying the government, as has happened in Belgium and Greece...
...Elsewhere the ususl custom is to steal the name...
...Internal dissension might prove catastrophic...
...The black market and inflation flourish...
...Whenever and wherever Itussi* ran Hovietise a country without jeopardising her own national security, it will be done...
...The cry of the crowds at •very political meeting I attended, was "Down with the ! Monarchy...
...In European countries like Italy at thi* moment, the conditions are entirely different...
...Devastated, torn asunder by two decades of fascism Snd four years of Nazi domination, and by the invasion, Italy is starving...
...The Communist Party has s mass composition...
...By that slogan is meant not merely opposition to the throne, to Victor Emmanuel and L'mberto who collaborated with Mussolini, but hatred of all the 'forces behind them...
...Its membership snd followers hsvs, in general, since Hitler's sttsck on Russia, been very active in the various nstional resistance and liberation movements...
...Of course, in Europe as in America, the Communist Parties are not free agents...
...The policy and action of the Allied Commission and the Allied Military Government, the foreign policies of London and Washington, often play into the hands of the Communists...
...I was assured that they are quite aware of the risks involved...
...Their drive is not for socisl reforms but for power...
...Any party which seems to contribute to national disunity will lose influence and followers...
...All bridge* and means of communication and most Italian factories and public works are destroyed...
...Look at Prance, Greece, Poland, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Italy...
...The New Leader will print other contributions on this problem, including one by Raphael Abramovitch, and we will welcome letters from readers on the subject...
...When Togliatti arrived in Italy from Moscow, he managed to have unlimited funds...
...The prestige of Rusais, the Red Army, and the Communists is high...
...Socialist Party, or some other leading designation...
...In brief, what French and Italian Communists are maneuvering to achieve is what has already been don* in Czechoslovakia—where the united front ha* become organic unity and the Socialists are (wallowed up in the "United Communist Party...
...For this reason and because of the totalitarian conceptions and ideology of Stalinism, it is imperative for all European Socialists to keep an eagle eye on the Communist Parties—even in the most rosy moments of the honeymoon stage of any united front...
...Criticism of Russia and its sgents would lose support far the Socialists...
...This will he conducive to the development of a healthier atmosphere in Italian political life, and will provide the objective conditions for the formation of a stronger and more representative government - rm I aas not a card-holding Socialist, but I returned from Italy convinced that the future of democracy there rests with the Socialist movement...
...Italian*, like Frenchmen, are sensitive to any insult to their national pride...
...The people of any nation which has been subjected to foreign domination, which has been defeated and humiliated, feels keenly the need for restoration of sovereignty, independence, national unity and prestige...
...In fact, already hundreds of Polish Socialist* and Peasant Party leaders have been executed or deported...
...In this light, it would be folly for anyone to apply lb* same yardstick that we apply in America to this problem la Europe...
...The Socialist Party is not in the newly reorganized Cabinet It serves Communist purpose to maneuver with the King in Italy and Rumania, and against the King in Greece...
...She is far more devastated than is France...
...Thert it an imperative necessity of unity in Italy...
...Isolated for so many yesrs from the democratic world, the Italian people have had no opportunity to learn what has been going ea...
...Such a bankrupt country is made-to-order for Communist demagogic appeals...
...Suspicion has been strengthened by Churchill's statements about the Mediterranean •rea being in the British sphere of influence...
...There are political situations compelling the European Socialist and Communist Parties to enter into a united front for the achievement of concrete objectives—or even to participate in the establishment of a coalition government...
...Political situations in various liberated European countries are now compelling Socialists and liberals to enter coalition governments with the Communists...
...BW Americans can realize how terribly Italy has suffered...
...It will turn Italians tpward Moscow, • * * I DISCUSSED the Socialist Communist pact with Nenni, Soragat, Pertini, Dugoni, l.aricchiuta, the young' son of Matteotti, and with other Socialist leaders...
...That is the mood of the masses...
...When northern Italy is liberated, the Socialist Party, whose main strength lies in such lug cities as Milan, Tin in, Genoa and Bologna, will be much stronger in its relation to other parties...
...They must be viewed from a practical viewpoint _»nd solely on the basis of the specific concrete conditions at hand...
...This suspicion *•» been increased by London's recent veto of Count a°rza as Premier...
...It is evidently the determination of Britain an-l America to restore the status quo ante helium, and this cannot be done...
...The Communists seem to have held on to their arms and did not surrender them as other anti-fascists in the underground did...
...Today, throughout the liberated and partly liberated lands of Europe, as well as in the various govern-ments-iq-exile, coalition cabinets are being formed to include Communists...
...They do not understand the totalitarian nature of Communism and the Soviet . Government, and most of them do not care...
...Italy wants to be free, not in the sphere of any nation...
...Only if there ,is unity between the anti-fascist parties and trade unions can any salvation be found...
...He said the Communists extend the hand of comradeship to Socialists "to create one great party of the workers...
...Those who dissent will suffer the fate of Erlich and Alter, unless they escape...
...If Italy is to be controlled *!* *»y ppwer during the reconstruction period, Italy Jhwfers it to be the U.S.A...
...A United front with the liberals, moderate republicans, and Christian Democrats, of which the Socialists would be the left wing, would serve democracy better than a pact with the utterly Machiavellian and dishonest agents of Moscow...
...They have no conception of the dangerous implications underlying present-day Russian international strategy...
...Fsr from the disillusionment with Russia widely felt in the United States, the Italia* masses regard Russia as a liberator, . they also have a deep friendship for the United States, but not for Britain...
...Europe's most Powerful nation...
...More harmonious relations are necessary between the Socialist Party and the Action Party...
...The Halted front is part of his strategy to defeat all opponent*, from the right or left...
...An Editorial— The United Front Ma, 'RICE THOREZ, agent of Moscow and traitor to France, in his first speech in Paris, revealed the real purpose behind the Communist proposal for a "united front" with the Socialists...
...This complicates matters very much, not only for th* individual Communist, but for the organizations momentarily collaborating with the Communist Parties...
...With the return of Modigliani and Silone to Italy, the Socialist leadership will be strengthened...
...But even if such action seems necessary, it does not follow that Socialists should make a united front with them...
...Rut whatever the name, unity means extinction or bankruptcy to the democratic Socialists as a party...
...The Communist Party ••"ds organisers everywhere, before other parties can * »o, holds more meetings, distributes mpre literature...
...From what I have seen in Italy, I am convinced that it was really necessary for the Socialist Party to collaborate with the Communist and other anti Fascist political organizations...
...The whole question cannot be divorced from consideration of the Russian imperialist drive—the danger thst Moscow will win hegemony of the Kuropesn continent, to spresd totalitarian ideas and later Communism...
...Speedy and more adequate relief by UNRRA, a thorough purging of the remaining fascist elements, th* relinquishment of administrative powers of the AMG and AC to the Italian Government—these measures are urgent Abov* all, the increase of aid from the American trade unions to the Italian trade unions, and from the American liberal and labor movements to the Italian Socialists, will help tremendously to counteract the Communist influence and to make possible progress toward Italian democracy...
...The ides thst the Italian Communists strengthen the fight sgsinit monsrchiim and th* reactionary forces clustered around the throne doe* not check with the fact that Togliatti ha* twice strengthened the position of Umberto and Bonomi...
...Stalin is still * Bolshevik snd believes thst only seizure of power throughout control snd esstern Europe, snd eventually in Germany and France and elsewhere, can guarantee the Anal Security of Kus •is and the triumph of Communism...
...They feel that the united front is imperative in this difficult and crucial period, but will be vigilantly on guard against possible treachery or maneuvers of the Communists to exploit the part for narrow partisan advantages...
...Making a pact with the Communists means working with agents of a foreign power who Subordinate everything—including the socisl revolution—to the interests of the Kremlin...
...A united front is not a way to avoid internal conflicts...
...From what I know of Italy—its people, its institutions, its traditions—I am firmly convinced that the Italiun Socialist Party will emerge out of the present crisis the strongest independent political force in the land —particularly, if the democratic Socialist, liberal forces, and progressive trade unionists of America lose no time in rendering generous moral and material assistance to the reviving Italian free trade union and Socialist movements...
...In fact, experience has taught us that all pacts with Stalin's organisations or sstellites lead only to disastrous results for those who enter into them...
...Moreover, left-wing unity is needed against the danger of neo-farism, the threat of the monarchist reaction-ar^bloc backed by Britain...
...This question of a united front with Communists, and of a coalition government Including Communists, is one which is daily assuming greater significance...
...To regain a place in the sun, among more fortunate nations and to reach a solution of its economic problems, Italy like France, must have a united national government which is not paralyzed by internal conflicts...
...Thus, the Communists immediately hegan to gain real strength...
Vol. 27 • December 1944 • No. 51
