Bridge Out

Italy's studious Premier Alcide de Gasperi gave other Europeans a lesson on how to face an issue. In a two-hour speech to the Senate last week, he closed a furious week-long debate on foreign policy by aligning his country squarely behind the Atlantic Treaty. He made no concessions to either the 67 Communist Senators, who jeered as he spoke, or wavering members of his own party who are still afraid of provoking the Russians. He said:

". . . I do not believe in the function of a 'bridge' in the sense that Italy could presume to sit between two worlds. Italy has accepted its duties and its place in the political array of the world, after an accurate examination of its ideas, its interests and its geopolitical position. If it wavered, if it betrayed intrinsic and explicit loyalties, it would finish as Masaryk and Benes finished."

There was no hedging after De Gaspen concluded. The waverers, convinced, voted with the government. Italy's commitment to the aims of the Atlantic Treaty was sealed by a vote of 161 to 92.

Still fighting hard, Italy's two million Communists promised a wave of strikes and demonstrations against the Atlantic pact this week when General Eisenhower arrives in Rome. De Gasperi, who has promised three Italian divisions, said: "We will meet Eisenhower with loyalty of purpose and the solidarity of free men."

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