END OF MUSSOLINI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1943, Page 4

END OF MUSSOLINI

TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE

OPINION OF MR CORDELL HULL. NO CHANGE IN ALLIED TERMS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, July 26. The Casablanca terms of unconditional surrender for the Axis still applied to Italy, the United States Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, emphasised today. He said he did not anticipate any change in the United States announced policy, either by President Roosevelt or the War Department.

Mr Hull expressed the opinion that it was a timely and appropriate end for Mussolini, and was the first major step towards an early and complete destruction and eradication of every vestige of Fascism, both nationally and internationally. He had been convinced for a long time, he said, that Fascism caiv ried within itself the seeds for its own destruction, and events were bearing out that belief.

The United Nations, Mr Hull stated, had not been in contact with Marshal Badoglio. Whether the United Nations would deal with the House of Savoy did not enter into his conversations with President Roosevelt and the War Department. Mr Hull added that he did not know the military leaders' attitude towards King Victor, and since the war was still in progress it would be better to wait until the question actually arose. Speaking on progress in Sicily, Mr Hull said the Allies were fighting like the devil.