On this day - 19 March

The 1948 Italian general election took place on April 18 1948. This election would seat the first parliament of the Parliament of the Italian Republic. The United States of America were concerned about the potential outcome of this election, with fears that were a left wing party to take control that the country would be drawn into a Soviet sphere of influence and it would lead to disaster for the country. The USA therefore intervened in the elections, supplying both financial aid to the opposition and making threats of economic sanctions.

On March 19 1948, the US Secretary of State George Marshall gave a speech declaring he would withhold all deliveries of food and supplies to the Italian nation.

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The Emley Moor transmitting station is located in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The first permanent tower at the site began transmitting television in 1959. A second tower was built to replace this in 1964. On March 21st 1969 the tower collapsed at the site due to a combination of wind and ice putting intense strain on the ropes that supported the tower. After this, in 1969 construction began on a replacement tower which began transmitting in 1971.

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