Show I Italian Election April 18 Will Be a Crucial Test in West East-West Struggle For those who are arc keeping an eye on the progress of Soviet Russian expansion expansion ex ex- in Europe the next date to watch is April 18 That is the date of a general election in Italy Italy and and it it is fa a crucial test in the free Communist free government government government gov gov- struggle which is going on in inthe inthe inthe the world today Greatest significance of oC the election in Italy is is that it threatens to extend Russian Communist power powe for the first time across the invisible line of demarcation demarcation demar demar- cation between Russian and western democratic influence in Europe As Az a r result s lt of wartime agreements among the great powers great powers a tacit understanding understanding under under- standing has been reached as to that demarcation line It runs from the tip of the Scandinavian peninsula down the Gulf of across the Baltic sea through Germany and Austria to Tr Trieste Tri Tn- est este down the Adriatic to the northern border of Greece and md then east to the Black sea Much though we may dislike the Russi Russian n moves to dominate Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia and Finland it i is a fact that both bothof bothof of these countries are on the other sidor side sid of or this mythical line of demarcation The we western tern powers pretty much agreed to Russian influence east of that line line line- whether we like the way that agreement agreement agree agree- ment worked out or not But Italy is another matter The extension extension ex ex- I tension of Russian influence to Italy through a Communist victory in an eJection election elec tion would be a breach of the line It I would be an evidence of the real imperialistic imperialistic im im- im- im aims of the Soviet Union just as the sponsored Soviet-sponsored guerilla campaign in Greece is an evidence of Russian imperialism t If Russia once breaches the Ute line there is no telling where it will stop Communist control of Italy would outflank outflank outflank out out- flank Greece and confront the western democracies with a supported Russian-supported spearhead aimed straight across the central central cen cen- traT Mediterranean n at north Africa It would bring Russian power to the backdoor backdoor back backdoor door of France The Italian c elections on April 18 are not therefore just a domestic issue They are an international interI issue with the thc most reaching far-reaching consequences forthe for forthe forthe the th-e future of free government in all of Europe the future security of the United St States t s' s sand and the p peace ice of the world No one knows how this Italian eJection election elec tion will turn out but many observers have expressed the opinion that the Communists have been gaining strength recently in Italy and that they s stand nd a good chance of getting enough votes to enable them to take over control of the Ita Italian J an government t. t If that happens happen the fat will be in inthe inthe inthe the fire It is indeed a very crucial Situation situation situation sit Sit- sit sit- and one which every American should be informed about and watch with the keenest interest The way the people of It Italy ly vote in their election April 18 may be far more important to Americans than the way we vote in our own election next November |