Italy is begging Philips Electronics NV to rethink its planned closure of its video and television manufacturing plant at Monza, north of Milan. The Industry Ministry says that in a meeting with officials of Philips Italia and trades union leaders it had beseeched Philips to present alternatives to closure and to delay the plan so that ways of safeguarding jobs could be found. The government seems to think that the Dutch administration can order private and independent companies like Philips around, and it says it will be contacting the Dutch government over the company’s decision to close the 1,000-employee plant.