40sservatore' warns the Democrats

rinHE " Osservatore Romano " has categorically denied I that the Concentrazione, or dissident Christian Democrats, who criticise the leadership of Signor Scelba and Signor Fanfani are " organically linked to certain circles of the Roman Curia."
To the Communist assertions that these Catholics would not have criticised the Catholic leaders without support from
very high up, the Osservatore says :
"Such allegations are completely false. So far from inciting or favouring a revolt, Catholic leaders and the responsible Catholic Press have already urged and protected Catholic unity in all fields of activity.
" Catholics are not linked to certain chutes of the Curia, but to the Church. her teachings and her apostolale."
The dissident Christian Democrats claim that the party leans too much to the Right, and their threat is to ally themselves with the Saragat Socialists and head a moderate Left Wing Government.
The danger became evident during the election as President of Signor Grorichi. who himself inclines to the Left. But the split did not materialise when the Prime MMisier presented his constitutional resignation after the President's election. as the Saragat Socialists decided not to provoke a crisis.
The Osservalore in its front page editorial appeals to Italian Catholics to preserve the unity of their ranks, because " the most sacred things are at stake and are menaced."
" We don't want to believe that there is really such a rebellion as has heen asserted by some in order to disturb public confidence." the Usservatare says, and it adds a warning against the danger of giving any pretexts for sowing confusion and opening " (he gates to rancours that darken objective vision."
The danger
The newspaper says it is obvious that Catholic tinily is so precious and necessary that any schism or threatened schism in Catholic ranks " strengthens the aspirations of the Communist world as to its relations with the Catholic world which they attempt to establish in every possible way—aspirations which. without that hoped-for breach in Catholic unity. they could not nourish even in their dreams."
It says that there is a danger that critics within the Christian Democratic camp may weaken the dam against the Communist menace and prepare the way for Red infiltration tactics, which have become Communism's preferred methods after frontal attacks have failed.
Signor Scelba is endeavouring to meet the demands of his critics. if only because of the threat of attack from the Right Wing elements.
But the situation is such that
a Christian Democratic split seems probable, and yet its stability alone can guarantee Italy from the dangers of playing into Communist hands on the Left or into reactionary ones on the Right.