ABSTRACT
Communists have obtained power, or placed their nominees in power, in five states: Cuba, South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Angola. Communists came close to power, but were overthrown, in Chile. Prospects of communist access to a share in power, or even to predominance, in several states of southern Europe appeared rather good: in Italy, France, and to a lesser extent, Portugal, Greece, and Spain. Hostility has been promoted and exploited by Soviet policy, and has given communists growing opportunities. In Italy the communist party favorably impressed thousands of middle-class Italians by its efficient administration of several large cities and provinces. Communists were few, and Soviet influence was in decline, in the Muslim lands; but if one or two rulers on either side of the Persian Gulf were to fall before an assassin's bullet or bomb, things might change very quickly.
