Randolfo Pacciardi, leader of the Italian Republican Party, will leave this week of a fact-finding tour of Middle East capitals, including Israel. The mission will be undertaken at the request of Premier Amintore Fanfani and, in addition to a personal aide, he will be accompanied by a Foreign Ministry official. He will confer with Arab political leaders and Italian ambassadors in various Middle East capitals.
Until now, Sgr. Pacciardi has been a most outspoken critic or the new Italian pro-Arab policy aimed at reconciliation of the West and the Arab leaders, particularly President Nasser of the United Arab Republic. The liberal leader has often expressed apprehension that the Arabs would become conscious or unconscious allies of the Soviet Union.
Government officials here hope that the mission may soften Sgr. Pacciardi’s opposition to their new pro-Arab policy and increase the understanding in Italian political circles of the Arabs. The government also hopes that the mission may eventually lead to collaborating of the Republican Party with the Christian Democratic government.
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