Italy and the Italians
The problems of Italy, as was indicated in Mr. Harold Macmillan's recent statement to the British and American Press in Rome, fall into two parts: what can be done by the Allies for Italy and what Italy can do for herself. Neither has an easy task. Italy stands in need of food and raw material and equipment of every kind. Mr. Macmillan has been submitting proposals with a view to increasing supplies sent by the Allies, but is obliged to recall the competing claims for help of France, Belgium, Holland and Greece. But re- construction in Italy must depend increasingly on the efforts made by the Italians themselves. The latter are disposed to answer that the effectiveness of their efforts is conditioned by the amount of freedom which they enjoy. Mr. Macmillan evidently recognises this, and suggests that Allied policy is to grant them greater independence to enable them to help themselves and to co-operate with the Allied Commission. A first step in this direction has been taken since he spoke by the issue of an announcement that the gathering and distribution of news for the Press is to be handed back to private enterprise. This means that for the first time for twenty years the Rome Press will be free to publish news from all the world provided by the international news agencies. It cannot be too strongly insisted that one of the first things that should be done in every liberated country is to open facilities for the supply of world news to news- hungry people. It would provide a corrective to much ill-informed and often unhealthy journalism. The released countries eagerly desire to be brought back into the world community where the affairs of the world are known and discussed. The effect on the Italian Press can be nothing but good. As for the Government, its power to act depends in great measure on itself. It has to overcome internal friction and divert its energies from party politics to administration.
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