VARIOUS STORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1943, Page 3

VARIOUS STORIES

ABOUT ITALIAN PEACE PLAN ALLEGEDLY FOILED I BY MUSSOLINI. I ITALIAN ROYAL HOUSE I INVOLVED. (By Telegraph-,-Press Association—Copyright)! (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) I LONDON, February 8. I Mussolini has appointed the Crownl Prince Umberto commander of thd remnants of the Italian forces in Rus-| sia, says a report received in London! The “Daily Express” correspondent in North Africa says it is persistentlj rumoured that Prince Umberto attendl ed the conference at Casablanca bel tween Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt. Prince Umberto’s removal to Russia is believed to be linked witlj Mussolini’s dismissal of nine Cabinet ministers last weekend and the dismisl sal a week ago of General Cavallero. I The “Daily Mail” says Mussolini’l dismissal of Count Ciano, Count Grandi and other* Cabinet minister! foiled a well-matured peace plan, enl gineered behind his back. Quotinl Swedish sources the “Daily Mail” say! Mussolini first heard of the peace plarl eight days ago and he quickly nippel in the bud military preparations for it! by, dismissing General Cavallero. Aftel his last meeting with Hitler, General Cavallero stressed the necessity fol making peace, because of the imposl sible situation on the Russian fronw Count Ciano, who met Hitler at thl same time, agreed with General Cavall lero and the following weeks werl occupied in endless argument betweel Mussolini and Count Ciano. CouJ Ciano, Count Grandi and GenerJ Cavallero apparently realised that thi only hope for Italy rested in the Hgusß of Savoy and promptly entered 'inti negotiations with King Victor Errl manuel. Both sides agreed that thl peace plan depended on the Papal afl titude and dowagers connected witl the House of Savoy obtained an audj ence with the Pope. At this poirl Mussolini struck. 1 MERE SHAKE-UP OF ITALIAN CABINET. PRESSURE ON MUSSOLINI REPORTED. (By Telegraph—Pl-ess Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, February 6. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that a spokesman for the State Department said that the shake-up of the Italian Government was mere window-dress-ing approved by its German masters in order to bolster deteriorating morale. The spokesman added that the State Department was not deceived by Count Ciano’s removal, which would not affect Italy’s foreign relations. A German threat to occupy Italy led to the Cabinet changes, according to advices received in Stockholm. It is believed that Count Ciano, Count Grandi, and Marshal Badogilo demanded that Mussolini should withdraw from active politics, enabling peace talks to be opened. The Germans discovered the scheme and threatened to walk in immediately.