AMERICAN MOVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 42, 19 February 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN MOVES

TO DETACH ITALY

Neutrality Of Spain And Portugal Also Sought

Rec. noon. NEW YORK, Feb. 18.

A co-ordinated American move is apparently under way to drive Italy from the war and ensure the neu'Spain and Portugal, says the Herald-Tribune Washington correspondent. The strategy entails gaming freedom of action against Germany in the Mediterranean theatre, through Italy's abandonment of the Axis or, failing this, the neutralising of the Iberian Peninsula, thus protecting the Allied flank in North Africs. Events indicating progress towards these aims include: — (1) The admission by Mr. Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information, that Italy is aiming peace "feelers" at .Britain and America. (2) The voyage of Archbishop Francis Spellman, of New York, to the Vatican, via Madrid, where he conferred with General Franco. Archibishop Spellman saw President Roosevelt before his departure from the United States and he will have an opportunity to talk with the Axis representatives at the Holy See. (3) The forthcoming meeting between General Franco (Spam) and Dr. Salazar (Portugal) to sign the Iberian neutrality bloc pact. (4) The impending arrival in Washington of General Juan Biegbeder, a member of the Spanish General Staff.