1.
GV. THE HARBOUR AT NAPLES.
0.05

2.
LV. SAN CARLO OPERA HOUSE.
0.10

3.
CU. NEWSPAPER SELLER.
0.14

4.
LV. PEOPLE ENTER BUILDING.
0.17

5.
GV.INT.. MEMBERS SEATED.
0.21

6.
SV. FANFANI TALKS TO DELEGATE.
0.25

7.
CU. DITTO.
0.29

8.
LV. MEMBERS SEATED.
0.35

9.
SV. FANFANI SEATED TALKING TO PEOPLE.
0.38

10.
GV.INT..PLATFORM AND PEOPLE.
0.42

11.
LV. PEOPLE CLAP.
0.46

12.
LV. SPEAKER ON ROSTRUM.
0.50

13.
CU. DITTO SPEAKING
0.54

14.
GV. DELEGATES ON BALCONIES.
0.58

15.
LV. SPEAKER.
1.03

16.
LV. PEOPLE ON BALCONIES.
1.07

17.
GTV. PEOPLE IN OPERA HOUSE.
1.11

18.
LV.PAN..STREET SCENE IN NAPLES.
1.16



Initials KB/V/BH/FG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A CONFERENCE WHICH COULD BRING ABOUT THE GREATEST CHANGE IN ITALIAN POLITICS OF THE POST WAR WORLD OPENED IN NAPLES, JANUARY 27TH.ASSEMBLED IN THE ORNATE SAN CARLO OPERA HOUSE WERE 699 DELEGATES FROM ALL PARTS OF ITALY REPRESENTING 1 1/2 MILLION MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT ITS EIGHTH NATIONAL CONGRESS.

FACING THEM WAS THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THE PARTY SHOULD TURN TO THE "CENTRE-LEFT" - FORMING A COALITION WITH THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICANS, AND BREAKING WITH THE LIBERALS.THIS, IT WAS HOPED BY ITS ADVOCATES, WOULD PROVIDE A MEETING POINT WITH ITALY'S THIRD LARGEST PARTY THE LEFT WIN??? SOCIALISTS AND ISOLATE THE POWERFUL COMMUNISTS.THE SOCIALISTS WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTINUED LINKS WITH THE COMMUNISTS, BUT THEIR BACKING WOULD BE VITAL IN PARLIAMENT.

IF SUCH AN ALLIANCE CAME ABOUT, ITS SUPPORTERS FELT IT WOULD GIVE THE GOVERNMENT SUFFICIENT FREEDOM TO CARRY OUT WIDE SOCIAL REFORMS WHILE REMAINING FIRMLY PRO-WESTERN AT THE SAME TIME.OPPONENTS OF THE SCHEME FEAR, HOWEVER, THAT IT WOULD GIVE THE COMMUNISTS AN INDIRECT SAY IN THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WOULD BE FORCED INTO NEUTRALISM.

AS THE ITALIAN PREMIER, SIGNOR AMINTORE FANFANI, OPENED THE CONGRESS THE ALLEGIANCE OF THE DELEGATES TO THE CENTRE-LEFT MOTION WAS NOT CLEAR, BUT IT WAS FELT THE MAJORITY WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA.