SOLE BLAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 October 1943, Page 4

SOLE BLAME

FOR ITALIAN ENTRY INTO WAR RESTS ON MUSSOLINI. ACCORDING TO BADOGLIO. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 24. Revelations about Italy’s entry into the war were made by Marshal Badoglio in an interview with a correspondent of “The Times” in the south of Italy. Marshal Badoglio said that Mussolino in August, 1939, tried to persuade Hitler not to go to war. Hitler replied that the question concerned Germany alone. Mussolini then said that Italy could not be ready before 1943, and he declared Italian non- belligerency. Marshal Badoglio added: “Everyone was convinced that we should not get into the war. Then came May, 1940. with the swift German victories in France and Belgium. Mussolini was convinced that the war was about to end and, without warning his collaborators, he wrote to Hitler at the end of May that by June 10 he would declare war.

“To the military leaders’ remonstrances, based on the lack of preparation, Mussolini replied: Tn September, 1940, everything will be over. I need some thousands of dead to enable me to sit at the peace table as a. belligerent.’ Count Ciano was against our entry into the war, the responsibility for which rests exclusively on Mussolini.”

Answering other questions, Marshal Badoglio said: “I am convinced that the Italian policy toward France, Yugoslavia and Greece after the war vzill be one of cordial, open friendship. Everyone in Italy regarded the attack against Greece as a wicked thing.” Marshal Badoglio said he had not seen Mussolini since November, 1940, when he resigned as chief of the general staff. The coup against Mussolini was carried out within the Fascist Party, and not one of the numerous members of the rank and file lifted a hand to save him. “He fell like a rotten pear,” the Marshal said.