Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

765.00/8–2054: Telegram

No. 784
The Chargé in Italy (Durbrow) to the Department of State¹

secret

Rome, August 20, 1954—8 p.m.

697. Following our first thoughts on significance disappearance of De Gasperi from political scene.²

Continuing task of maintaining unity of heterogeneous Christian Democratic party adversely affected by disappearance his skillful compromising hand. Likewise his death removes most authoritative exponent of consolidation of democracy in Italy through cooperation with democratic lay parties in struggle against those CD factions advocating all out endeavor to achieve complete Catholic dominance.

De Gasperi’s disappearance from scene also blow to liberal Catholicism, which as current body of thought cutting across party lines seeks to wed strains of religion and liberalism (liberty and private enterprise) in defense against political authoritarianism of right and left.

Scelba and Fanfani remain dominant figures in CD party. Scelba is determined advocate of De Gasperian general political orientation at home and abroad. With De Gasperi’s death, Scelba becomes leading exponent of democratic quadripartite cooperation. Although Scelba has availed himself of De Gasperi’s prestige and counsel, he has been running govt firmly with own hand.

Fanfani, on other hand, is generally uncommitted. From educational background and early professional associations there may be some reason to class him with groups working achieve Christian Democratic dominance at all costs for execution of a Catholic social program. However, experience as Cabinet minister in recent years appears to have instilled large sense of responsibility, both administrative and political, including awareness of necessity for broad cooperation with other parties. He has recently demonstrated considerable flexibility in seeking political alliances.

Some possibility exists that struggle will develop between Scelba whose strength rests on governmental apparatus and Fanfani who now has control of party. For time being, however, both clearly dependent on each other. Experience of Pella last winter demonstrates necessity of cooperation both govt and party. Fanfani has already been burned by premature bid for presidency of Council. As to present, he has just publicly put self and party strongly behind both Scelba govt and policy of democratic collaboration.

Passing of De Gasperi opens up prospects for right wing CDs to revive position in party by working on part of old guard. This group may also be encouraged now to make strong effort to find common ground with Monarchists and even MSI for formation of rightist party to exploit resistance among electorate to Scelba economic and social program and dissatisfaction of leadership all three parties in south at Fanfani’s new organizational drive in that area.

General foreign policy orientation of govt and party not likely to change barring an unexpected turn of events affecting political relationships described above. While De Gasperi was outstanding leader in shaping Ital foreign policy of full cooperation with us and western Europe, present leaders of govt and party fully endorse these policies. Events abroad are more likely to have effect of changing Ital foreign policy than is foreseeable course of domestic political developments.

De Gasperi’s death also decisively effects issue of succession to presidency of Italy when Einaudi vacates post in May 1955. While his prospects of carrying on from Einaudi appeared to be declining in face of growing lay democratic sentiment in favor their retention highest state office to prevent CD monopoly of Italian state, his presence would surely have been important factor in presidential election. Without him, CDs at moment appear have no one of necessary stature, qualities, and independence from petty party turmoil to offer except perhaps President Senate Merzagora, who though elected on CD ticket has independent liberal stamp. Since PSDI and PRI clearly have no presidential candidate at moment, De Gasperi’s departure strengthens hand of PLI, whose leaders say in confidence they will either push for second term for Einaudi or press candidacy of present Minister Public Instruction Gaetano-Martino.

Durbrow

1. Repeated to London, Paris, Vienna, Moscow, Brussels, The Hague, Luxembourg, Belgrade, and Bonn.
2. Alcide De Gasperi died on Aug. 19 at the age of 73. A further report from the Embassy regarding the effect of De Gasperi’s death on Italian domestic politics is in telegram 746, Aug. 24. (765.00/8–2454) Ambassador Luce returned to Italy on Aug. 21 to attend De Gasperi’s funeral on Aug. 23 as President Eisenhower’s personal representative. She returned to the United States on Aug. 27. The text of a letter she sent to President Eisenhower on Aug. 31, which described conversations she had had with Italian officials during her short stay in Italy, especially as they pertained to Trieste, is scheduled for publication in volume viii. Luce returned to Italy again on Sept. 10.