865.00/12–2646: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Key) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 27—11:20 a.m.]
4460. Remytel 4430, December 21,15 and airgrams A–1102 and A–1103, December 6.16 Manner in which Italian Cabinet completely backed down before Soviet protest over Troika incident indicates extent of Communist power in government as well as Communist intention disrupt efficacy of police forces and thus undermine public order.
Considering that Communist paper originally published circular and followed it up with vilification and ridicule directed at Police Chief and at De Gasperi as Interior Minister there can be little doubt of party’s intentions. De Gasperi apparently failed to insist that as police pointed out in first place, police force can and should investigate impartially all reports of subversive organizations.
[Page 953]Press reports make no mention of Nenni participation in Cabinet discussion of Soviet protest after first presenting it but conclusion is inescapable that he went along with Communists rather than attempting back up De Gasperi. Furthermore, with a Communist Minister of Justice17 there is little likelihood Unità will be tried for violation articles 256 and 261 of Penal Code as Gonella18 attempted insist.
Repeated Moscow as 221.
- Not printed; it forwarded press reports regarding the Cabinet’s discussion of the Troika affair; and of its communiqué deploring the journalistic indiscretion in publishing the letter, denying the charges of anti-Soviet Government attitude, and expressing regret toward that Government (865.00/12–2146).↩
- Airgram 1103 not printed.↩
- Fausto Gullo.↩
- Guido Gonella, Minister of Public Instruction.↩