The Crisis in Italian Socialism
The Crisis in Italian Socialism Convention on April 11th of Critical Importance to Italy and Europe By Vanni B. Montana A KR1VING at the Socialist Party headquarters la Rome for a Central...
...only a liberal monarchy can aupplant Franco with civil war...
...Don Juan will be received with enthusiasm by the majority of th* people," she thinks...
...But the fluidity and confusion that have bean created in tho party many enable Nenni to keep his opponents divided...
...Given each a trial, it may aafely be predicted that Mihailovich will be found guilty of collaborating with the Germane, despite th* fact of hia loyalty to the Allied cauae and despite the fact that up until the very end of the occupation the German* had a price of 100,000 gold marka on hia head...
...I—Further postponement of the ,party convention to give the Nenni group time to capitalise on expected successes in local elections...
...Every other Spaniard ia whistling the Irish Lullaby and the picture itself ia a major topic of cafe conversation...
...Secretary, I am certain that I am expressing the sentiments of tho overwhelming majority of the Serbian people for whom General Draiha Mihailovich haa for almost five yeara now been the symbol of the struggle against tyranny, and for freedom and democracy...
...But if Par-tini, Silone, and perhaps even Morandi support the Faravelli group, the party can ha rebuilt aa the strongest party ia Italy—possibly in a merger with the Action Party...
...Going My Way," which haa been a tremendous box-office success in Madrid...
...The contribution msde by General Mihailovich to the Allied war effort waa recognized by telegrams of appreciation addressed to him by the Allied Middle East Command in August 1942, by General Eisenhower in December 1943, end by other Allied commanders at varioua timea...
...If Nenni wins at the convention on April 11, he will try to force through a more rigid constitution which would put the opposition in a straitjacket, under discipline preventing an effective fight against eventual organic unity with the Communists...
...A few days later, while Nenni waa in Ixmdon with Silone seeking to promote the idea of unity of action between Socialists and Communists on an international scale, Morandi made a seriee of moves against tho opposition...
...The Spanish Catholics with they had a mere liberal clergy—closer te the people personally and more understanding of their worldly problems—more ready te help...
...The strongest force for democratic Socialist principles against Communist totalitarianism in Italy ia the Critica Socials group, and it will probably be supported by tho Iniziativa Socialist* group...
...They were incredulous, for the most part, when I explained that Crosby was playing the role of an Ameriraa Catholic prieat...
...A leading Communist, Negar-ville, stated at the CP convention in January: "We don't want fusion with a group of the Socialist Party, but with the whole of it" Togliatti aaid that "The main basis of our policy In Italy is unity of action with the Socialist Party...
...Falangists* are joining the Somatenea, a volunteer militia or armed vigilante organization, Miss Williams writes' "Com-* munists, Socialiata, Republicans . . . admit they cannot-hope to overthrow Franco by force . . . What resistance there is...
...Franco is gradually stripping th* Falange of its power...
...The loss of prestige of the Socialist Party as a result of Nenni's pro-Communist policy is illustrated by the fsct that the party organ in Rome, VAvanti, which after liberation boasted a circulation of 150,000, and then was stabilised at 80,000 copiea, dropped to 17,000 in January...
...It would ruin the Italian Socialist Party as an independent democratic fores...
...Th* second Urns you fool me it will be my fault...
...FORMER YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES R SPORTS from Belgrade announce the capture of General Drasha Mihailovich, leader of tho llrst effective anti-Nazi guerrilla army in Europe, and state thai he faces trial for treason before Tito'a court* i I appeal to you to use your influence with Tito's Government to see that Amerksn officers who were attached to General Mihailovitch from September 1*43 until December 1944, be called upon to give their evidence...
...It would mean that only a minority of tho Socialiata would join with the Communists, leaving the majority in a position to rebuild an independent democratic party...
...t IT ia difficult to predict the outcome of the April 11 convention...
...A proposal of fusion wow would split the Socialist Party, which both Nenni and Togliatti, Communist loader, want to avoid...
...But "there ia general dissatisfaction with Franco's regime...
...Any stable regime must have the support of two of the three most powerful groups—the Catholic Church, the Army, and the Falange, Now that Church and SUI* are ao eloeely tied together, going to Church ia not only good Tor the soul...
...Thus he hopes to retain on his side the centrist group led by Morandi...
...the third is the real boss of the Confederation—Gluaeppe De Vittorio —a Comintern agent known as Nico-lotti, who has served Moscow all over Europe...
...Since considerations of security no longer obtsin, I would respectfully urge that, in order that the American public may be fully Informed, (he text of the varioua reports submitted by American officers attached to both Tito and Mihailovich be released for publication...
...But present indicstions are that Nenni will not win...
...is disorganized and without a leader to capture the popular fancy...
...Party members were forbidden to write for VKpoca, a left-wing paper which had become the rallying point for the democratic Socialists, especially the youth group, Iniziativa Sociallita...
...Such "unity," of course, ia merely a step toward a complete merger, a marleuver to weld "unity" from below while Nenni and his friends continue their maneuvera at the top...
...From first place in circulation it has fallen to aeventh...
...The best example of that ia the Bing Crosby fllm...
...Also, to use your influence to aee that General Mihailovich be given the right to choose American or other Allied counsel...
...The General Secretary of th* SP angrily tor* down the sign...
...DOIOTY WILLIAMS ON FRANCO SPAIN In her "Report on Franco" in Th* Commonweal for March 8 Dorothy Williams quotes a slogan painted on a cemetery wall: "If you are not a clergyman, a soldier, or a black-market operator, I shall be waiting for you here i ext winter...
...Silone joined in the Pertini declaration, while the democratic Socialist group lei by Faravelli and Sar.gst introduced an independent resolution condemning the Nenni line, which received the aupport of seven members of the Central Committee...
...2 -Joint candidates with the Communists in the municipal elections...
...A Nonni-Moraadl victory would not aaaure "Socialist unity...
...it'a good politic...
...Nenni will not support this resolution, but play tho role of mediator between the fusioniats and those who fight for an independent party, stressing the "need for Socialist unity of action...
...It is expected that at the convention a phony resolution will be presented by Communist-stooges Lizzadri, Baeta and Manrinelli, favoring fusion...
...Mihailovich and his forces rescued and turned over to the American military authoritiea over 500 American airmen, in addition to many other Allied airmen, shot down over territory under his control...
...It Is reported that Nenni may bo sent to Paria aa tho Italian Ambassador, where he can devote 20 percent of hia talents to Italian affairs and 80 percent to other schemes, such as promotion of the Negrin-Del Vayo maneuver to force the Spanish Government-in-exile to admit them and the Communists into the Cabinet...
...She reports that the preaent condition of Spain is summed up in a popular saying in Madrid: "Some Spaniards eat too much but moat of them do not eat at all...
...Nenni, seeking u vote of confidence, will compromise-instead of fusion with the Communists, he will urge unity of action, thus splitting the opposition...
...Addressing this appeal to you, Mr...
...The Crisis in Italian Socialism Convention on April 11th of Critical Importance to Italy and Europe By Vanni B. Montana A KR1VING at the Socialist Party headquarters la Rome for a Central Committee meeting in January, IBM, Pietro Nenni found a placard on the door — an Arabian proverb: "The first time yon fooled we it was your fault...
...It was announced that delegates to the convention to be held on April 11 were to be elected on the basis of membership cards of 1946...
...But elsewhere the Communists have entrenched themselves, [There are three secretaries of the Italian Confederation of Labor: Grandi, christian Democrat, is very old and sick and hence "window-dressing...
...Pertini, who did not care to be fooled again, presented a substitute resolution which Nenni refused to put to a vote...
...And yet, aa I Waa amazed to find in talking with number* of Catholics, the Spaniards got the impression that the movie represented some strange United States chareh—which they greatly admired hat never seemed to connect with Catholicism...
...On Nenni's recommendation, the committee made the following decisions, all favoring the Nenni-Togliati plan for unity of action intended to lead toward ultimate fusions of the Socialist and Communist parties: 1—Disciplinary action sgainst the Young Peoples Socialist Federation, by threatening to disband it unless it cooperated with the Communist Youth Front...
...One possibility is that Nenni will renounce the post of general secretary and be elected president of the Socialist Party...
...In Milan the Socialist group formed around the magazine Critica Socials made a good showing in recent trade union elections...
...Or a Nenni-Morandi alliance . may capture a 60 percent control of tho new Central Committee by means of a compromise resolution...
...Only personal differences between leadera of tho opposition can prevent the defeat of the pro-Communist faction...
...If these American officers and airmen, who lived for many months with Mihailovich and hia Chetnika, are not permitted to teatify at the forthcoming trial, tho whole procedure will be a mockery of justice, in which the sentence haa been paaaad before the trial haa been opened...
...In the Central Committee moating which followed bo was in a fighting mood and his policies were approved by a vote of 26 to 7. He waa supported by Morandi, the new secretary appointed in place of Sandro Pertini in December...
...A communique was issued charging the Critica Soclale group, led by Faravelli, Simo-nini, Corsi and Canevari, with sabotage...
...In th* face of our continued and increasing trade with Spain, Communists and" Republicans alike said te me: 'If England and the United Statea will not help us, perhaps Russia will.'" JUSTICE FOR MIHAILOVITCH TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY OF STATE BYRNES FROM CONST4NTIN FOTICH...
...the "Socialist" Lizzadri is a pro-Communist fnsiimist...
...Colonel Albert Seits, Captain Walter Mansfield, Captain George Musulin, Colonel Robert McDowell, Colonel Water T. Carpenter, Captain Nicholas La lie h, and a number of other American officers were witneaaes of the struggle of General Mihailovitch against the Germans...
...It is doubtful that he will fool Pertini again...
Vol. 29 • March 1946 • No. 13
