Show I Mill Wheels of Fate Grind f for r Umberto's Return to o Italy's Throne i I By Paul Ghali Chicago o Dally Hally Now Service P PARIS May 18 There 18 There was a considerable flurry in Italian monarchist circles a few days ago I King Ex-King Umberto had been informed informed informed in in- formed that an article on his private private vate life as Italy's heir apparent apparent ent was about to be publicized The monarchists got busy with the result that the article which article which might have lessened Umberto's chances to regain the throne throne- probably will never meet the public eye The restoration of the monarchy in Italy can only be accomplished through a 1 new v referendum Premier Alcide de Gaspers Gasperi still holds sufficient majority in parliament parliament par pare to achieve a law fixing a new referendum provided the voting is preceded by sufficient propaganda The monarchists say they have proof that the 1946 referendum which brought in the present present republic was irregular faked votes having been added to the polls Political observers in Italy say sayI S I the government is becoming increasingly inS increasingly in- in j in-j unpopular and the I house of Savoy gaining massI mass support This was illustrated recently recently re re- I when a newsreel from Portugal PorI Por Por- Portugal where he now lives showing showing showing show show- I ing Umberto at a football match got rousing applause all over the countr country In fact such an outburst of monarchial monarch 11 fervor resulted that the police had to withdraw the reel from all movie houses Gets Small Majority Some political observers in Italy feel that should a referendum be called today it would give the monarchy a small majority of about 55 to 60 of oC the votes Many I Italian t a I 11 i a 1 n monarchists think however that the chances for restoring the monarchy would be greatly enhanced if Umberto would agree to renounce his rights in fa favor 01 of his son the I I year old Prince of Naples eventually e giving the regency to Belgian born Belgian born Queen ex-Queen MarieJose Marie larie MarieJose Jose who lives in Geneva Marie larie MarieJose Jose Tale herself is of like opinion according to good authority Umberto however h how o w e eve v e r 1 thinks otherwise Important Sidelight ht An important sidelight on the response in countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization tion to the return of the monarchy monarchy mon mono archy in Italy comes to me through an author authoritative source n in m close contact with Italian monarchists monarchists monarchists mon mon- here in Paris It seems the matter was discussed discussed discussed dis dis- cussed in confidential talks bet between between be be- tween t the Italian premier and a high official of the British foreign foreign for for- eign office during the formers former's S visit to London last February The British initiated initialed the talks i j which were kept secret from Italian Foreign Minister l Carlo who accompanied de Gasperi Gas Gas- peri peni on his visit to the western capitals Count is a noted Want ant More Stability The unusual interest of the British Labor government in restoration restoration restoration res res- of a monarchy is attributed attributed attributed attrib attrib- in political circles here in Paris Pans to the intense desire of London and other western capitals capi- capi capitals I to see sec more Italian political stability The discontent against de dc Gasperis Gasperi's pro-Catholic pro middle- middle the road government is increasing increasing in in- creasing daily just as Communistic Communistic Communistic propaganda is becoming more acute Stability is an essential condition condition condi condi- tion to the setting up of the military defense of the western world I According to the report reaching reaching reaching reach reach- ing me de Gasperi was bluntly asked by the British what he thought about restoration of the house of Savoy Sa His answer was that he was in no wise averse Discussed With Hh Vatican In turn de Gasperi reportedly discussed the subject thoroughly with his Vatican advisers upon his return to Rome The conclusion conclusion conclusion sion I am told was that the presence of a king would serveto serve serveto to reinforce the hands of the Italian government in its constant constant constant con con- stant struggle against the Reds With Italy headed by a king de Gasperi is said to feel that the Communist party could be outlawed if it became necessary a a step which would precipitate the country into immediate civil war if taken by a weak government govern govern- ment |