Speech #820122853

Bearing on the point which the Senator from Arkansas has just made. I believe that there are about 2.000.000 unemployed in Italy today. which is a very large number for a country of the size and population of Italy. When we were in Rome. De Gasperi pointed out the bad effects of the unemployment situation. the loss of colonies. the lack of emigration. and the constant increase in population. The Italians do not believe in birth control. They are not raised that way. They have a 400.000 increase in population every year. De Gasperi said. "Unless we can get some contracts and some economic help to take up the slack in employment. the favorable curve which we have had with respect to communism might be reversed." I wish to emphasize the point which the Senator has made with respect to the relationship between the economic situation in Italy and our security.