 It's time for the Lawn Gene Chronoscope, a television journal of the important issues of the hour, brought to you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. A presentation of the Lawn Gene Wittner Watch Company, maker of Lawn Gene, the world's most honored watch, and Wittner, distinguished companion to the world-honored Lawn Gene. Good evening. This is Frank Knight. May I introduce our co-editors for this edition of the Lawn Gene Chronoscope? Larry Lesser and John B. Oaks from the editorial board of the New York Times. Our distinguished guest for this evening is Her Excellency Claire Booth-Luce, United States Ambassador to Italy. When President Eisenhower nominated Claire Booth-Luce to be Ambassador to Italy two years ago, some persons doubted the wisdom of his choice. Never before had a woman been named or assigned to a first-class European power, and certainly not to one that was in trouble, where communism was growing. Well, two years have passed and communism has become weaker. Italy is stronger. Even the Trieste problem has been settled. In short, never underestimate the power of a woman. Madam Ambassador, Mrs. Ambassador, before we kettichize you, I'd like to ask you, just how do you like Italy? Are you enjoying yourself there? Well, Italy is a very wonderful country. I don't say that because I have the honor to be accredited to it. The proof of that is that over six million tourists visited Italy last year, 500,000 Americans, and they went there to see the beauty of Italy, and also to find that the Italians are the most charming and courteous people in the world. Well, actually, is Italy ready to stand on its own feet now, or do we have to continue aiding her? Well, let's face it. Italy is a relatively poor country. It will not be able to solve its own problems entirely alone for a good many years. It will need the help of Europeans and others in the world, and especially of America. Mrs. Ambassador, to what do you attribute the diminution of communist influence inside Italy, and how strong is it there still anyway? Well, I attribute such diminution as there have been largely to the common sense of the Italian people. There are very wise people, and they are beginning to see that communism really doesn't pay and doesn't produce the things that they expected. Many of them have it. That is one of the main reasons. Also, the government has taken some very vigorous action against the communists in the last year. Such as? Well, they have dispossessed the communists from the former government-owned fascist properties, communist unions, and many communist organizations. They have moved into clear communists out of sensitive places all through the government. They have done a good many things of that sort. They are invoking for the first time very strong libel laws against the communists for libel in the press. Mrs. Lewis, would you say that communism is actually still Italy's biggest problem? There is no question about what this encroaching form of totalitarianism is, the major political problem. How do you account for the fact that communism seems to have grown in the agricultural areas, more backward areas in Sicily? Well, that's a bit of a paradox, you know. The government has really done some extraordinary work in the question of land reform in the south of Italy, in the depressed areas. Obviously, the government couldn't move forward to solve the whole question overnight, but very often where it has moved in, the communist organizations have moved in faster to take the credit for what the government has done and to demand more than the government can possibly do at this time without risking inflation. Would you say that the land reform program really is progressing then in a practical and positive sense? Oh yes, there's no question of it. I've seen those areas myself. Many of our people have visited the land reform areas and the government has done some splendid work. What about the question of taxes? A lot of people in this country think the Italians do not pay and never intend to pay taxes. Do you have any comment to make on that? Well, of course, millions of Italians do pay taxes because otherwise the government could never, never find the revenue with which to keep its own budget going. Perhaps the upper classes don't pay taxes as heavily as we do. That's true. That's true all through Europe, as you know. I mean, Americans are the heaviest tax-paying people in the world, but also it's a fact that more and more richer Italians, well-to-do Italians are paying more and more taxes than they've ever paid before. And there's a lot of tax reform going on, too. Mrs. Duce, how stable is the government, Mary O'Shea, but what about all those scandals we've been hearing about here? Have you shaken them? Well, there were, of course, some very severe scandals. There was the well-known Montesey case. Then recently there's been a really startling scandal called the Sotu scandal. It concerned the really deplorable conduct. One wouldn't mention it, of course, on the air of a communist called Sotu. I see. And is Sotu still in the Communist Party? No, he was promptly thrown out of the Communist Party when the scandal was revealed. Ms. Ambassador, what's the most important factor in American-Italian relations, as you see it after two years over there? Economic aid, our military strength, the refugee program, what are the main problems? Well, American-Italian relations are fundamentally very sound. There's a long history of friendship and understanding between Italy and the United States. I don't think that there's any political power or any situation that I can conceive of that would really damage Italian-American relations badly. Obviously, the Italians do look to us as the world's strongest and richest and most friendly power for aid, and they've received an enormous amount in the past. Would you say American prestige is very high in Italy? Well, Mr. Tarkiani, Ambassador Tarkiani, when he left his post in Washington last month, called at the White House and told President Eisenhower that in all the history of Italy, Italian-American relations had never been better. Too partly to our Ambassador in Rome, no doubt? Well, that's kind of you to say so. To the Ambassador, let's say partly to the Embassy. I've got a wonderful team of men over there. What about Trieste? Well, Trieste is a subtle question, and the fact one hears so little about it now shows that it was a good solution that has been accepted by both the Italian and the Yugoslav people. It goes to show you, you know, that you can avoid trouble and you can get things solved with patience and a spirit of mutual sacrifice as the Italians and the Yugoslavs showed in this very dangerous and troublesome question. Mr. Lewis, diplomacy has been a male preserve the most part of the time. A lot of women are looking in at you tonight. Do you think there is a career in diplomacy for most women or for...? I think there is a career in diplomacy for all able people who want to try to become diplomats, come foreign service officers. It isn't a question of whether they're men or women. It's a question of if they're willing to work and if they're able. You actually don't feel that there is a question of whether men or women. In other words, you feel that a woman can negotiate, can maneuver with the European politicians as well as a man can? Well, you want to know whether a woman can negotiate and maneuver? Yes. I do ask Mrs. Lassur about that. Do you think Mrs. Ambassador, that the Italians can make a really effective contribution to the Western European Union and if they can, how? Well, I think they've already made a very extraordinary contribution in the last few months. You do remember that they passed Western European Union with a majority of 120 votes. Apart from the pro-common form parties, there wasn't a single vote cast against it in the lower house, in the camera of the Italian parliament. And I think the Senate will pass it by the same overwhelming majority. There isn't any question where the vast majority of Italian people stand. They stand very firmly on our side. Well, we don't have anything to fear in the next elections then, Mrs. Lewis. Well, no one knows when at this moment the next elections will be. They are scheduled for 1958 every five years, as you know. They might come before. So, till one knows what the situation is at the time when they come, you can't predict. Mrs. Lewis, I was just recalling that the first time I met you was in 1940 up in the Maginot Line when you were gathering material for your book, Europe in the Spring. Now, would you go back to Europe this spring? What would you face and find there? Well, Sydney, a Europe that is made an astonishing economic and I believe political recovery, but also you'll find in Europe in the spring that they will be very concerned about what's going to happen in Asia in the winter. They will be deeply concerned that American arms, American prestige shall have no setback in the Pacific because a blow to American prestige there would have repercussions on European politics. Do you think that our allies in Europe are really firmly behind us in the event that we should get in trouble in the East? I think there's no question where the majority of Europeans want to stand. They want to stand within the framework of Western European and American civilization. They don't want war. Who does? I don't. Thank you very much, Mrs. Ambassador. We're very grateful to have you here tonight. The opinions expressed on the Laun Jean Chronoscope were those of the speakers. The editorial board for this edition of the Laun Jean Chronoscope was Larry Le Sur and John B. Oaks. Our distinguished guest was her Excellency Claire Booth-Lews, United States Ambassador to Italy. They say everyone notices the watch on your wrist. To be well-dressed, every detail must conform including your watch. Now, Laun Jean makes a watch to fill every need to suit every taste. And the choice of styles and of models is almost unlimited. For ladies, Laun Jean creates superb examples of the jeweler's art, exquisite in taste and finish, perfect for every occasion. For men, Laun Jean produces watches for every requirement, watches for dress and sport. Laun Jean automatic watches the most advanced in the world. Waterproof and shock-resistant watches for rugged service. 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