Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1943. AN ABDICATION DEMANDED.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1943. AN ABDICATION DEMANDED.

admission by Marshal Badoglio that the formation of an. all-party Government in Italy is impossible while King Victor Emmanuel remains on the throne may be regarded as easting some doubt on recent reports that the prevailing and predominant attitude of the Italian people towards all questions ol political organisation and change is one of apathy and cynicism. Marshal Badoglio would hardly have reached his decision not to oppose the abdication of the King had not the leaders of the liberal parties, by whom, that abdication is demanded, been supported by a. considerable weight of effective public opinion.

The position obviously is complicated greatly by so large a part of Italy being still in enemy hands. For a time the opinion appeared to be held, not only by the Allied Powers to whom Italy surrendered, but by some at least of the Italian anti-Fascist and"liberal leaders, that all internal and domestic issues in Italy should be subordinated and set aside until the Germans had been expelled.

For instance,‘in an address delivered in New York late in September, just before he left on'his return to Italy, Count Sforza (who is now demanding in uncompromising terms the abdication of King Victor' Emmanuel and the exclusion of the Crown Prince Umberto from the succession) was reported as declaring that when the Germans were defeated, the Italian people would be able to select their own form of government, but that so long as the Government of Italy is

loyally engaged in the task of fighting and defeating the Germans and devotes all the resources at its disposal to that struggle, it may be dangerous to weaken now its position or to hamper its work of fighting for the liberation of Italy from the German invasion.

In actual contact with the task of re-establishing the national life of Italy, Count Sforza and those associated with him apparently have decided that King Victor Emmanuel and the Crown Prince must go. The immediate grounds on which the abdication of the King is demanded may well be regarded as in themselves more than sufficient. In the speech which has been quoted, Count Sforza recalled that Italy accepted a monarchy in 1860 on the basis of a contract between the people and their monarchs. Successive kings swore on their honour that they would always at any cost protect and defend the freedom of their people." “Will the Italians,” Count Sforza asked, “forgive 20 years of the most bestial tyranny; will they forgive 20 years of perjury? The decision does not rest with any of us, but with the Italian people as soon as it is free to vote.”

It was here implied that the position of the King was bound to be challenged eventually, but that the challenge would be postponed. Now Count Sforza and other anti-Fascist leaders are demanding the immediate abdication of the King, as a preliminary to the constitution of what can only be regarded as a provisional Government of Italy, and it seems likely that they will have their way.