THE ITALIAN ELECTIONS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of June 29th an anonymous contributor takes your Rome correspondent to task for stating that in the recent Italian elections there was no attempt at overt pressure, and asserts that the voting papers were transparent. That in some cases they were transparent is possible, as in so many millions of voting papers the same material was not always available, but in the immense majority of cases the voting was absolutely secret. The fact that 136,198 votes were returned against the Government shows that there could not have been much pressure, and where the names of those who voted against the Fascist list were known, such knowledge existed before the vote, for in spite of stories spread about in certain foreign papers about terrorism and fear, persons hostile to Fascism make no secret of their opinions even in the presence of an ardent Fascist like myself, as I can attest from personal experience.
But the essential point is that while a few thousands or tens of thousands of persons may be coerced into voting one way rather than another (this was constantly done by the pre- Fascist Governments of Italy, particularly by that of the late Giovanni Giolitti), no Government or party can coerce 8,500,000 voters, that being the number of those who voted the Fascist list.—I am, Sir, &c., LUIGI VILLARI.
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