Badoglio and the Democrats
Political reconstruction in Italy is proceeding at a leisurely pace. How far that matters at this stage is difficult to determine. There is no clear'evidence that those parts of the country under Marshal Badoglio's administration are seriously concerned about politics at all ; the industrial north, still in German hands, is much more politically minded, and will certainly make itself felt when the opportunity comes. Meanwhile, one fixed point is the decision of King Victor Emmanuel to abdicate in favour of the Crown Prince Umberto as soon as Rome is recovered. Another is the commission given to Marshal Badoglio to form a new Government on a wider basis. That means certainly the inclusion of men like Count Sforza and Professor Benedetto Croce and of some representative of the Communist Party, whether Signor Togliatti or another. The Marshal seems reluctant to take in representatives of all the six democratic parties who expressed their views at the recent conference at Bari, and the positions he is disposed to offer are by no means the most
important. One disturbing element was disclosed a few days ago by an American Civil Affairs officer, who reported that in his district Fascism was unmistakably raising its head again. From other districts it was reported that nothing of the kind was happening ; but clearly there is a situation that needs watching. That provides the strongest argument for the strengthening of the Badoglio Cabinet by the inclusion of democratic elements.
