Progress in Italy
If the Belgian deadlock has just formed, the recent deadlock in Italy has, for the moment at least, been broken. It has been broken largely by the force of personality of Signor Parri, and the caution of Prince Umberto. The most solid element of Italian national resurgence has been the organised resistance movement of the north, wherein Signor Parri has won a high position of trust and esteem. By his skill in persuading six parties to support his administration as the only solution to the recent crisis, he has in- creased his stature as a political leader, and he is aiming at a broad-based coalition of the most progressive forces in the country, stable enough to govern until national elections to a constituent assembly can take place. It is clear that this third attempt to find a satisfactory provisional government for Italy is more hopeful than the attempts of either Marshal Badoglio or Signor Bonomi. It has its roots in the new Italy of anti-Fascist resistance, as well as in the pre-Fascist Italy of parliamentary Liberalism, for it comprises Signor Nenni, a Socialist, and Signor Parri, a resister as well as a Liberal of the old school like Signor Brosio. On the other hand, it has yet to steer its way between many reefs. There is the immediate problem of economic reconstruction and recovery, which can only be tackled by maintaining smooth relations with Great Britain and the United States, from which essential help and supplies must come. There is the increasingly urgent problem of reorganis- ing the working administration of the country after a gap of some twenty-three years of Fascist boss-rule ; a task peculiarly urgent and difficult in local government. There is, finally, the problem of political convalescence, towards which the first step must be the hotding of free popular elections. The issue of the regime —whether Italy is to be again a constitutional monarchy or is to become a republic—is in the offing too ; the Socialists, and many resistance groups, have already declared for a republic. Italy's " passage home" is still beset with many obstacles.
Previous page
