The Nenni Socialists
For no group is stock-taking after the Italian elections going to prove harder than for the followers of Signor Nenni. While oppor- tunists might once have made a case for Social-Democrats hitching their wagon to a victorious Communist star, no one can argue the case for plunging with them into defeat. But this is what has happened. The Popular Front has lost the elections and the Nenni Socialists have lost all significance. Already defections from the ranks of their supporters are numerous, and it seems to be only a question of discipline whether many of their leaders abandon the Communist alliance individually or as a body. Some, including Signor Nenni himself, are probably too far compromised for recantation to be possible, but any of the others who hope for a political future will have to decide quickly along what line their new course is to be set. The least profitable course would be for yet another fractional party to be formed from the disillusioned Nenni supporters, surviv- ing uneasily in limbo between the forces of the Communist and the Saragat Socialists. It would be much more reasonable if the present opportunity was used to make the dividing line between Communism and Socialism as precise in Italy as it is, for example, in this country ; that would involve the division of all Italian Socialists between the banners of Signors Togliatti and Saragat. Whether this result is achieved depends largely on the deliberations of the World Federation of Trade Unions in Rome next week. This will provide a chance for the discussion of the tactics for the Socialist minor:ties still adhering to the Communist alliance.
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