1. AT APPROXIMATELY 22:30 ON NOVEMBER 5 A GROUP STILL BEING SOUGHT
BY POLICE THREW THREE MOLOTOV COCKTAILS INTO MTC AND BROKE ABOUT SIX
WINDOWS. FIRE DAMAGE LIMITED TO COMMERCIAL OFFICER PETER FROST'S
OFFICE THANKS TO PROMPT RESPONSE OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
2. NO PERSONNEL AT MTC DURING ATTACK; CONSEQUENTLY NO ONE INJURED.
3. CONSULATE AND MTC HAD BEEN ALERTED BY POLICE TO DANGER OF INCIDENT
AND BEEN ON ALERT ALL DAY BUT UNFORTUNATELY POLICE PATROL HAD PASSED
JUST PRIOR TO ATTACK.
4. POLICE ASSUME ATTACK WAS MADE BY FACTION THAT FIRE BOMBED
OTHER US FACILITES IN ROME DURING SECRETARY KISSINGER'S VISIT.
WHILE POLICE HAVE ONE FAIR LEAD AND I HAVE URGED SERIOUS EFFORT
TO CATCH ATTACKERS, LIKELIHOOD OF THEIR APPREHENSION IS SMALL.
5. THIS IS FIRST ATTACK ON HIGHLY VULNERABLE MTC DURING ITS 10
YEARS EXISTENCE. POST SOMEWHAT APPREHENSIVE THAT EASY TARGET FOR
FUTURE ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS MAY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
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6. POST HAS REPEATEDLY REQUESTED POLICE PROTECTION AT MTC AS RESULT
OF SERIES OF DAY-TIME THEFTS OF EXHIBITORS VALUABLES FROM AUTOMOBILES
PARKET NEAR MTC. POLICE RESPONSE HAS UNFORTUNATELY BEEN ABOUT WHAT
ONE MIGHT EXPECT IN A BIG CITY WITH ITS DAILY BUDGET OF STREET CRIME.
7. PROTECTION AGAINST VIOLENCE HAS IN PAST BEEN SUFFICIENT AND PRO-
VIDED BY POLICE EITHER AT OUR REQUEST OR UPON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE.
8. POST HAS HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH PREFECT AND POLICE AND ON OCTOBER
15 REQUESTED RE-INSTITUTION OF POLICE GUARD AT USIS AND TC AS DANGER
OF ATTACK ON US FACILITIES INCREASED. CONSULATE PROPER, WHICH IS
REGULAR TARGET FOR DEMONSTRATIONS, IS WELL-PROTECTED. POLICE HAVE
PROVIDED SPECIAL DETAIL DURING PUBLIC EVENTS AT BOTH USIS AND TC WHEN
REQUESTED BUT HAVE PLEADED INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ROUND-
THE-
CLOCK PROTECTION AT OTHER TIMES. INCREASED DEMANDS ON POLICE PROVOKED
BY
KIDNAPPINGS, STREET CRIME AND RISING VIOLENCE OF EXTREME LEFT AND
RIGHT HAS STRAINED POLICE RESOURCES BADLY. PROBLEM AGGRAVATED NOV 5
BY DAY-LONG DEMONSTRATIONS FORCING POLICE TO POST GUARDS AT
MOST PROBABLE TARGETS - POLITICAL PARTY OFFICES, CONSULATES, USIS
AND OTHER LIKELY EXTREMIST OBJECTIVES. CONSEQUENTLY, TC PATROLLED
ONLY BY ROVING POLICE PROWL CAR, WHICH, UNFORTUNATELY, OUT-OF-SIGHT AT
MOMENT OF ATTACK.
9. I PROMPTLY SPOKE TO VICE PREFECT (PREFECT ABSENT FROM MILAN
TODAY) AND TO POLICE TO PROTEST INADEQUATE PROTECTION AT TRADE
CENTER AND TO STRESS IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING AMERICAN BUSINESS
FACILITIES THROUGHOUT LOMBARDY. I WARNED THAT ATTACKS ON OFFICIAL
AND PRIVATE US FACILITIES CREATING PSYCHOLOGICAL CLIMATE HIGHLY
DISCOURAGING TO AMERICAN INVESTMENT IN ITALY WITH INEVITABLE ADVERSE
IMPACT UPON ITALIAN ECONOMY. PREFECT EXPECTED BACK NOV 7 AND I HAVE
REQUESTED IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT TO DISCUSS PROBLEM IN GREATER DETAIL
WITH OBJECTIVE OF RAISING PRIORITY ACCORDED PROTECTION US PROPERTY
IN LOMBARDY.FINA
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