FUTURA" STIRS CONTROVERSY IN ITALIAN CP
ROME -- The organization of a leftist tendency inside the PCI [Italian Communist party] hinges on two important requirements: a national leadership and a publication, The latter seems to have appeared (at least temporarily) through the transformation of Citta Futura from a monthly review of the Communist Students into the organ of the entire Youth Federation.
The two numbers issued since the change indicate quite clearly
that the aim was to establish a tendency publication.
One of the main features of the improved Citta Futura is that articles are published not only from young Communist authors but also from party members with leftist positions. .
- In the January number, for instance, there is a significant article by Lisa Foa, who left the editorial staff of Rinascita, the PCI publication, after Pajetta was appointed editor. Ehtitled "The Chinese Strategy After the Bomb," the article defends the Chinese policy of seeking a ban on nuclear arms and points out the difference between the Chinese refusal to sign the Moscow test~ban treaty and de Gaulle'ts position.
In the same issue there is an excellent article by Paolo Santi on -PCL policy in the factories. - oe
In the February issue, Augusto Illuminati, a former leader of the Rome Communist Youth, challenges Amendola's revisionist arguments concerning a “united party. [See World Outlook January 1.]
Malcolm X is given favorable treatment in both issues. And the American Trotskyist paper, The Militant, is quoted in the January issue by way of translation of an interview with Milton Henry.
Controversy was at once set off by the first issue. A letter from L. Lombardo Radice, a well-known rightist member of the PCI who specializes in articles on "the dialogue with the Catholics," was published in the February issue protesting an article by Titti Pierini, a young militant, attacking his ideas on policy towards the Catholics. Significantly, Lombardo Radice complains about too many older members of the party writing for Citta Futura. He wishes the publication "not a long, but an intense and useful life."
This development comes in a situation of increasing tension between the party and the Communist youth. It is rumored-that the party has postponed the national congress of the Communist youth due to the basic documents prepared for the congress being too "original" with regard to the party's line. If this is true, it will heat things up. The role of Citta Futura will increase in importance as a rallying point for leftist militants.
An incident in Rome indicates the mood. At a public meeting at the Maestoso cinema, when chief speaker Amendola came into the hall (by coincidence the national anthem was being played), the Communist youth at once left the hall and stayed outside during the entire meeting, singing revolutionary songs.
The leader of the Communist Youth Federation of Rome, Pio Marconi, was listed to appear at the presidium of the meeting but he did not show up.