NOT FAVOURED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1943, Page 4

NOT FAVOURED

THE OPEN CITY PROPOSAL VIEWS OF LONDON PAPERS. DEMAND FOR UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 16. While the Italian Government has begun moving military objectives from Rome, to enable it be recognised as an open city, exempt from attack, messages from Quebec say the British and American chiefs of staff decided that they would not accept the Italian declaration that Rome was an open city unless Marshal Badoglio accepted the Allies’ demands for unconditional surrender. It is assumed, however, that there will not be a final decision, for transmission to Marshal Badoglio, until Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt meet and review Italian policy, which it is believed will be one of their first acts when the conference begins this week.

Reports from Stockholm say considerable quantities of various military materials, including the archives of the Italian War Ministry and other departments. have already been evacuated from Rome.

The British papers are opposed to the proposal to declare Rome an open city. The “Star” says Badoglio must not be allowed to get away with his impudent offer and demands that it should be resolutely turned down. It is incapable of accomplishment in these days of all-in war until the Allies are at the city’s gates.

The “Daily Express” says bombing of Milan and Turin continues and so must the bombing of Rome until Italy quits the war. “Badoglio’s declaration, three weeks ago, that the war goes on, was one that we will continue to take note of,” the paper adds. "The war either goes on or stops for Italy as a whole.” The “News-Chronicle” says that if the Allies agree to make Rome an open city now they would establish a most embarrassing precedent. At a later date it might well prove of immense military value to the Axis, even under the strictest conditions that could be devised, to declare Berlin or Tokio, or any town in enemy territory, an “open city.” .

NOTHING OFFICIAL RECEIVED BY AMERICAN STATE DEPARTMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) RUGBY, August 16. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) told his Press conference in Washington today that the State Department had still received no official notification about Rome being declared an open city.