ACTIVITIES OF GIOVANNI GRONCHI, WITHIN THE PARTITO DEMOCRATICA CRISTIANO (PDC)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002100040007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 1999
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 23, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASSIFIGAIION ""/CO' LnOL - Jr. S. OTTICI'LC r""'7.,Y
Approved For RereEWA09V
..1 AGE400957R0021 0107NO.
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INFORMATI _JA
COUNTRY
Italy
DATE DISTR. 23 November 1948
SUBJECT
Activities of Giovanni Gronohi, within
NO. OF PAGES 2
the Partito Demooratioa Cristiano (PDC)
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SOURCE
1, In a recent diecu;ision, Giovanni Gronohi, President of the Chamber of Duties,
rovaalod his point of view on deve1oaments within the partite Demooratica Cris-
ty.ano (F'T) with regard to labor union disputes and changes taking place in
the high levels of the police.
Gronohi, denied recent information from various sources to the effect that
he had suffered any rebuff in the Aesooiaaione Cristiana Lavoratori Italians
(ACCT) Congress. l stated that, on the contrary, he actually had been re-
oeivad very warmly Et the Congress, and that he was satisfied with the out-
come which had resulted in the adoption, essentially, of the program that
he had suggested. Further, he, indicated that he had been invited to attend
a meeting at Bologna, early in October, of IyDC labor leaders to draw up the
details of the ACLI ?rograu
3o Gronohi confirmed that there is every intention on his part to bring to a
head latent conflicts which have existed within the PDC, chiefly those arising
out of the bureaucratic control exercised over the whole Party by present mem.
bars of the Executive Committeeo At the National Cona:iitteo meeting, held early
in September, at Grottaferrata, Gronohi had not won his point for an early
Party congress, but 1,.>.d succeeded in securing approval for the holdingf, of a
pre-congress meeting, some time in the early winter, At the pre-congress met-
ing, Gronohi.indicati:d that there would be an attempt to change the constitution
of the Party, in ordir to break the rigid hold by the Central Party Directorate,
25X1A6a on the rani: and file of the Party.
4. Gronohi confirmed rumors mentioned to hire that he K to publish a
daily newspaper, probably by the end of October. Coamyent. In-
dependent information indicated the probable title o the newspaper s Lai
Liberth, the press as that of Orso, in Rome.)
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Cfronahi stated that he expected results within the Party co become apparent
by spring tirhen the Party congress would be held,
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This document is hereby regraded to F a.
CONi 1DENTIAL in accordance with the NO
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6. Gronahi statedthat the views of Luigi Gedda, Director of the Comi.tati
Civics of Azicne Cattolioa were, in many respects, very aloes to those of
his awn. Gronohi further added that Gedda had placed his oven organiza-
tion at his (Oronchi?s) disposition on all views which both held in common.
Gronohi agreed that the implications of this policy within the Party would
mean (a) the cutting of its ties with the large industrialist and proprie-
tor groups with which it had been associated diving and after the elections,
and (b) a consequent reduction in the amount of funds at its disposition,
and, further, that politically this would mean that rightist groups which
had been ground-out during the last elections would again reappear on the
political scene.
7o The PDC, he agreed, probably would decline in number of votes, in the
future. He declared, however, that it would not decline in effectiveness,
because, as demonstrated by the present situation, even an overwhelming
political majority is not a definitive factor in the actual composition
of the r-overn ant, which continues to rest upon an alliance with, and par-
ticipation in, the govornment by other parties,
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002100040007-1
Actually, Gronchi stated, it has gainod the PDG little to have an overwhelm-
ing majority when, in praotioe, it is necessary to base the formation of
their government upon a coalition policy in which the majority party finds
it necessary to place elements of other parties in positions of such impor-
tance as the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
9o Gronohi continued that he does not feel personally that the PAC will hold
political control for the five-year period contemplated by the constitution,
that is, until 1952. He stated that, if the international scene does not
break, one can expect serious political developments by the summer or fall
of 1949.
loo Gronohi stated categorically that the present Communist objective is to bring
about an enlargement of the pavernment in which they will participate with
the PDC. Gronchi described Abide Do Gasperi as a true Giolittian, He stated
that De Gaspers talks as little as possible, that he nevor opposes anyone, and
that in cases where three or more of his colleagues are in disagreement,
he always avoids a pronouncement and resorts to a delaying technique.
11. In reply to a query, Gronohi stated that following the last talk with source,
during which the question of the Ministry of Interior had been reviewed, he
personally had.interested himself in the question of the substitution of the
chief of police and had backed up Mario Soelba forcefully in this action.
Gronchi spoke so firmly that he gave the impression that he actually had
played an important part in bringing about Luigi Ferrarri'a substitution, }ronohi
added, however, that he was beginning to have a number of doubts with respect
to Soelba, who, he feltihad become interested in his work as a policeman, rather
than as a Minister,
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Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002100040007-1