New Dignity

After eleven hours of irrelevant oratory, climaxing 30 days of impassioned discussion, Italy's Constituent Assembly ratified the peace treaty, 262 deputies for and 68 against.

All other deputies (80) abstained. Abstention by the Communists got them out of their embarrassing spot as partners in debate of the Uomo Qualunque (Common Man) Party. It was also a fairly safe move because last week the radio to Moscow developed bad static, and neither Communists nor anybody else could discover what the Russian line was; Russia has not yet rejected the treaty.

High point of the debate came when aged (87) ex-Premier Orlando charged the Government with "a lust for servitude," thus throwing the sweltering chamber into screaming uproar. Meanwhile, Neo-Fascist Emilio Patrissi and Deputy Paolo Treves, a Saragattian Socialist, after a fistfight in the corridor, scheduled a duel the next day. Said Premier Alcide de Gasperi: "What counts most is that Italy gives a clear, honest and unreserved demonstration to walk the path of sacrifice toward a new dignity."

Promptly Secretary of State Marshall wired Foreign Minister Carlo Sforza his congratulations, welcomed Italy into the family of free, democratic nations.

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