The former Premier sends a poignant message from captivity
Dear Francesco,
While sending you a friendly greeting, l am obliged by these difficult circumstances to present to you some realistic thoughts, fully aware of your responsibilities, which I respect ... I am considered a political prisoner and being tried, as president of the Christian Democrats, for my responsibilities of the last 30 years ... Weigh your actions carefully in order to avoid further evil... In the given circumstances, besides humanitarian reasons, what becomes apparent is the reason of state. Most of all this reason of state means that in my present condition I find myself under full and uncontrolled domination. There is the risk that I will be induced to talk in a manner that could be dangerous ... May God enlighten you for the best ... With most affectionate regards, Aldo Moro.
That signed, handwritten, five-page letter was purportedly from kidnaped Christian Democratic leader and former Premier Aldo Moro. Addressed to Italy's Interior Minister Francesco Cossiga, it was delivered simultaneously last week to newspaper offices in Rome, Milan, Turin and Genoa. The grave, poignant message never said so directly, but the suggestion it contained was unmistakable: it was an appeal to Italian authorities to bargain with the Red Brigades terrorists who had abducted Moro two weeks earlier.
Police said the signature and handwriting appeared to be authentic. According to Luciano Infelisi, the chief judicial investigator on the case, the letter also seemed to show every sign of having been written under duress. It was accompanied by the Red Brigades' third communiqueé, but once again the kidnapers failed to specify any demands for Moro's release. Typed on the same IBM electric as the first two communiqués, it merely gave another menacing progress report: "Moro's interrogation is proceeding with the complete collaboration of the prisoner."
Moro's letter argued that "the doctrine according to which advantage must not accrue to kidnaping does not apply to political circumstances where a sure and incalculable damage is done not only to the person but to the state itself." It pointed out that all other countries, except Israel and West Germany, had saved kidnap victims "in a positive way." It referred to past political exchanges between the Soviet Union and Chile, "many exchanges of spies," and the expulsion of dissidents from the Soviet Union.
In addition to pleading in this oblique fashion for his own life, Moro warned authorities to consider the consequences to the government if he should be forced to disclose state secrets. Moro suggested that the Vatican could be useful in the case.
He did not explain how, though the implicit thought was that the Church might be used as an intermediary—as indeed it has offered to be in several terrorist cases before. The government kept a strict official silence on the letter. But after deliberations, the ruling Christian Democrats, as well as the Communists and other parties, agreed that the answer to negotiating with the kidnapers must be no.