ITALIAN HOPE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 5

ITALIAN HOPE

COMPROMISE PEACE

Gayda Talks Of "Futility Of Fighting"

N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 1 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 17. "Virginio Gayda, who has been described as Mussolini's Press mouthpiece, yesterday made the first open appeal for a compromise peace. Writing in the Giornale d'ltalia, he saict: "Italy must resist until the moment England has realised that her debt to America is growing ever larger, her world markets are being destroyed, and the risk of Communism becomes overwhelming. If peace were not made rapidly we could then consider a compromise peace with -Britain and America, but never with Russia. The Axis has no choice but to resist as long as materially possible. "The Allies' geographical position protects them from direct attack, but the same applies to the Axis. Axis capitulation would mean heavy territorial losses and the impoverishment of their people. Therefore the only way is to continue resistance, even if it appears completely hopeless. This applies especially to resistance on Axis borders, which in no event should be crossed. "The former British Ambassador to Tokyo, Sir Robert Clive, recently declared that the Allies did not • expect Japan to collapse, therefore they expected a negotiated peace. The other Axis Powers are determined to resist until a similar statement applies to them. The Soviet is the real danger to both belligerents, for which reason the Allies should realise the futility of continuing fighting."