ITALIAN PARTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1943, Page 3

ITALIAN PARTIES

OPPOSITION TO BADOGLIO AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE PEACE. THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE.' LONDON, August 7. Reports from Zurich, Switzerland, state that five political parties in Milan and Turin held a joint meeting today to form a committee of action. The parties are reported to agree that the general political situation demands energetic steps to comply with the wishes of the majority of the people, and they intend to hand an outspoken memorandum to Badoglio on Monday. The Italian Socialist Party, aiming to secure an immediate peace with the attention of the Monarchy, has issued an eight-point political programme which calls for a general strike of all elements opposed to Marshal Badoglio's regime, says Reuter's correspondent on the Italian-Swiss frontier. The Swiss newspaper “Ulksrecht” gives the points as: — (1) Opposition to the war and the dictatorship. (2) Opposition to Badoglio's present regime of Fascism without Mussolini, which is directing precautionary measures merely against Fascist corruption instead of against Fascism itself. (3) Opposition to the military, dynastic and capitalistic hierarchy. (4) Opposition to the so-called Liberal elements which Badoglio is employing to influence public opinion in his favour. (5) Continuation on the inner front of the fight for democracy. (6) An immediate peace—which does not necessarily mean acceptance of any terms imposed by the victors —and termination of the military alliance with Germany and Japan. (7) Restoration of political freedom and a democratic republic in which the workers, peasants, bourgeois and intel-1 lectuals are united. (8) Calling for a general strike aimed at the release of political prisoners and internees, cessation of hostilities, abolition of the monarchy, and restoration of the freedoms of the Press, trade unions and political beliefs, the statement claimed that the panic-stricken Grand Council had tried to avert a popular revolution “by sacrificing Mussolini and also some of the Fascist symbols while entrusting power to militarists.” It described Badoglio's regime as a final attempt to preserve the existing social conditions. “Badoglio served Mussolini for 21 years, assisting him to suppress internal opposition and acomplish his imperialistic designs, including the subjugation of Abyssinia, the Fascist intervention in Spain, and Italy’s entry into this war,” the statement declares. “Our course is, therefore, clear: We must- oppose Badoglio’s regime.” The Free Italy Movement in London

has resolved to call on the anti-Fascist * elements in Italy immediately to open negotiations for peace and friendship with the Allies on the basis of the rights of people according to the At- ' lantic Charter. The resolution was forAwrded to Mr Churchill. The Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, will broadcast to Italy today. PROFITEERS INDICTED. Twenty-three prominent Fascists and industrialists, including Count Ciano (Mussolini’s son-in-law) and the general secretary of the Fascist Party, Signor Scorza, have been charged with war profiteering. This is reported to be only the' first batch to face the Badoglio Government’s tribunals. Rome radio quotes the Italian Minister of Justice, Signor Azzariti, as stating that the commission to try the high Fascist officials who used their office to enrich themselves would consist of judges whose integrity could not be doubted and whose decisions the country could trust. Reuter states that a list of the names of those charged appeared in Italian i newspapers yesterday. It included the directors of the Fiat, Viscosa, Montej cattino and Ansaldo concerns. Many \ corrupt dealings in other- Axis countries have been revealed in Mussolini's pri- ; vate files. An organised anti-German demonstration occurred as 1500 evacuees left ’ Milan station for Vienna. Boos, catcalls and whistling led to numerous arrests. Similar trains are scheduled- to ; leave Rome, Turin, Florence, Bologna ! and Venice during the night. A message from Istanbul yesterday : said that the wife of M. Nurettine Ver- ' gine, counsellor at the Turkish Em- ' bassy in Rome, was shot dead in a battle between police and Fascists in : a street in Rome.