NOT TO BE MISTAKEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 54, 1 September 1943, Page 6

NOT TO BE MISTAKEN

Disintegration of Italy

Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 31. The diplomatic correspondent of "The Times" writes that the definite political news from Italy which all await has not yet arrived, but that there is no mistaking the extent of the disintegration within Italy and the sapping of the Italian will to continue the fignt.

understanding—publicly as well as privately. It is not only a question of opening a second front which, requires discussing, but also political policy.

This question of a second front has been reopened by Russian newspaper comment. For instance, the "Pravda" declared that a shattering-blow against Germany is scarcely imaginable without the use of the tremendous strategic advantage of the British Isles as the main..base for invasion, and went on to point out that England was saved from the threat of invasion by the Soviet Union, ;and that after the RussoGerman war •started England got a chance to mobilise her full war economy. Such '• comment-drew from : "The Times" -the Vremark, that revival; of a second front campaign was a psychological' blunder, "for strategy cannot be directed" by popular debate." There is also the comment' that if a second front resulted in Germany withdrawing sixty divisions from the East,' the Germans must have made inaccurate calculations, for they already have between twenty and forty divisions in the west; and that it is bold to assume that they have miscalculated to such an extent. On the political side there are divergent views about the position of the Poles, from whose Government in London.the Russians withdrew recognition' last year without consultation with Britain and America, while recently . Britain and America: recognised the French Committee, leaving the Russians to- act independently in the matter where, says "The Times," "joint and simultaneous action could well ihave been arranged. There is; also the question of what partr the three Powers are going to take ; in organising the security of post-war Europe. r The coming six weeks are regarded as most important for, as the "Observer" points out, "the end of these six weeks will either see all the Allies together in the sight of victory or a serious- crisis of confidence between Russia and. the western Allies. Which it will be depends at this . juncture almost entirely on pur ability to wage a-successful war with political as well as. military arms." s