Unrest in Italy
Land reform is a subject which has agitated Italy fairly con- tinuously since the days of the Gracchi, and it is perhaps a little unreasonable to expect Signor de Gasperi to solve a problem which has baffled so many of his distinguished predecessors. Nevertheless, the breaking up of the big estates is a policy to which he committed himself and his Government a year ago, and the specific proposals which have now been produced for performing this delicate opera- tion come none too soon. The opposition which they have pro- voked, and which will probably prove strong enough to hold up their enactment for some months, is formidable, but not nearly so formidable as the agrarian revolution which would be caused by further delay. Sporadic lawlessness has already increased consider-
ably during the past twelve months, as much among the peasantry as among the town-workers, and has been vigorously exploited by the Communists. It is admittedly incongruous that the share- cropper's desire to become a property-owner should be adopted into the Communist programme (and that it should be the Govern- ment which thinks in terms of co-operative farms), but Communism is the inevitable resort of a starved and disappointed peasantry. The degree of violence which has been reached in town and country in recent weeks has obliged Signor de Gasperi to give the restoration of order priority over the introduction of reforms. The reaction of extremists both of Right and Left has been as truculent as was expected And, as in the past, will probably swing support for the Government. But in the long run it is only the actual process of land reclamation and land settlement that can ensure the survival of this or any other Italian Government of the Centre.
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