BADOGLIO’S POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1943, Page 4

BADOGLIO’S POLICY

MAY ELECT TO CONTINUE WAR KNOWN TO BE STRONG PRO-GERMAN BRITISH GOVERNMENT IGNORING RUMOURS. APPRAISING FEW KNOWN FACTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 26. “The British Government is ignoring rumours of clashes and demonstrations in Italy and also rumours concerning Mussolini, and is appraising the situation in light of the few known facts,” says “The Times” diplomatic correspondent. “Nothing is more significant than the complete silence of Italian sources about the Fascist regime and the equally dead silence of all the former Fascist leaders, who apparently toppled with Mussolini.” Many observers surmise that the King of Italy and Marshal Badoglio are preparing an attempt to get Italy out of the war. The “Daily Telegraph” comments that King Victor and Badoglio are just as guilty as Mussolini. If they carry on the war. Allied sentiments towards the new military Government can be no more tender than towards the old Fascist Government.

Other commentators express the opinion that it would be wrong to assume that Badoglio's assumption of the office of Prime Minister means that Italy will get out of the war precipitately. He has never been a Fascist, but, like the King, he is a pro-German and a total supporter of the Axis military alliance. It is believed that Badoglio will attempt the Herculean last-minute task of reorganising thoroughly the demoralised Italian military machine. It seems now that Hitler told Mussolini last week that he would not or could not fight for Southern Italy and that meant the Fascists’ failure to maintain Italy as a sovereign State. It explains why Mussolini threw in his hand.

Berlin has tried to minimise the significance of Mussolini’s dismissal. A Wilhelmstrasse spokesman said that the change was no more than a matter of Italian internal politics and therefore no problem for the Foreign Office comment.