Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1939. ITALY’S CHANGE OF DIRECTION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1939. ITALY’S CHANGE OF DIRECTION.

JN spite of some feeble and unconvincing denials, it is plain to all the world that Italy has changed decisively the policy to which she was lately committed as an Axis partner and. that what is now called “the obvious It a Jo-German breach” has already developed rather widely. Much remains to be made known, however, of the. precise circumstances in which Italy, at the outbreak of war, in effect repudiated what her own leaders had described, as a close and binding alliance with Germany.

Writing from Geneva to the ‘‘Christian Science Monitor.” Mr Joseph C. Harsch states that as long ago as May of this year, a wave of strong public reaction had already developed in Italy “against, the continued exercise of Italian initiative from Berlin.’’ There were even, the American writer avers, rumours of an impending anti-Fascist revolution —symptoms of national unrest which was allayed in part by whispered assurances that the Axis alliance contained a secret escape clause. At the same time, thousands, of German “Strength Through Joy” tourists who invaded Italy during the spring ami summer were very unpopular ami: “There was no mistake that the mass contact between the nationalities increased the strain on the Axis.”

As to the official relationships between Italy and Germany, Mr Harsch pictures the Fascist regime as basking in the belief that the Axis was a profitable partnership, not involving danger of a war and that the time was approaching for Italy to collect dividends. At a meeting of the Council of Ministers in Rome in June last, Count Grandi, then about to relinquish the post of Ambassador to Britain, is said to have disturbed these complacent beliefs rather rudely by reporting earnestly and persistently that England meant business, that there would be no more Munichs and that if Italy continued the tactics she had pursued up to that time “it would be real war.” On August 10 last, the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) went to Salzburg, where he engaged in extended conversations with Herr Hitler. Nothing has been made known of what conclusions, if any, were reached on that occasion. According to Mr Harsch, however, “whatever happened at Salzburg it is now established that thenceforward Count Ciano’s influence was added to Count Grandi’s in favour of Italian emancipation from German initiative.”

Events thereafter came rapidly. Disclosure of the impending Russo-German pact strengthened the Ciano-Grandi 'opposition and this development was followed a, few days later (on August 25) by President Roosevelt’s peace message to King Victor Emmanuel. Then came the announcement of changes in the occupancy of important military and administrative posts in Italy—-changes which were regarded generally as weakening the Axis alliance. According to Air Harsch, however:—

The crucial and historic moment came on the morning of September 2. when King Victor Emmanuel, returning to Rome from his fishing lodge, received Signor Mussolini. The latter is said to have presented a formal general mobilisation order for the royal signature. Everything was ready for mobilisation. The cards had been in the local post offices since about August 24 for delivery on September 4—-the intended date for a general Italian mobilisation. But the King never signed it.

There is no absolute authority for tin's story of a vital confliet of authority between King Victor Emmanuel and the Dnee. in which the King prevailed but Mr Harsch observes Hint:—

Significance is seen in the extent of the popular belief that such an incident occurred, and that the King prevented mobilisation and possibly war. The significant .result was that on the afternoon of the Quirinal audience, the Council of Ministers formally announced that Italy was taking no action in the war.

Had Italy mobilised at that time, her participation in the war on the German side, though not certain, would have been highly probable. That slit* should now enter the war as Gerinanv’s ally a])])ears almost, unthinkable. Though it expressed sympathy with Germany in the opening phases of the European conflict, the Italian regime is now not only warning Russia that it would immediately resist any attempt Io introduce ( ommunism into the Balkans, but, in conjunet ion with Spain, has intimated to Germany her interest in the preservation of the territorial integrity of Belgium and the Netherlands. There are, on the whole respectable grounds for believing that at I lie great turning point which Italy reached on Hie eve of the outbreak of war. King Victor Emmanuel was enabled, with’ the. backing of a considerable portion of his people, to take decisive action, which may he expected to work out with great benefit to his own country and to Europe.