ITALIAN PEACE PROPOSAL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23804, 25 November 1942, Page 3

ITALIAN PEACE PROPOSAL

TURKISH REPORT London! Nov. 23. Marshal Badoglio recently headed a movement for a separate peace with the Allies, according to travellers reaching Ankara from Italy. Marshal Badoglio, as the head of a group of anti-Fascists, is reported with the full knowledge of King Victor Emanuel, the Crown Prince, and Count Ciano to have approached the Vatican to mediate. Mussolini, hearing about the movement, violently quarrelled with Count Ciano. These events are believed to have been the background for the recent attacks against the Vatican by the Fascist Party newspaper “Regima Fascista." A message from Zurich states that it is reliably reported from Rome that Mussolini is attempting to strengthen the Government in the event of the total Allied occupation of North Africa. He has made contact with the National Party Leader, Signor Fedezoni, and the former Liberal Minister, Signor Orlando. and also with some Roman Catholics and former leaders of the Socialist Syndicalist Movement with a. view to forming a national defence Government. “Admitting the Italian army’s inability to protect northern provinces from British air raids, the Italian Propaganda Minister (Signor Pavolini), in a broadcast, suggested that the inhabitants of Genoa, Milan, and Turin should evacuate their homes and seek • asylum elsewhere,’’ reports the Berne ; correspondent of the “New York Times.” “The Fascist Party is evacuating thousands of children, while hotels , and vacation resorts have been reopened to receive evacuees.” The correspondent adds that refugees are reported to be pouring southwards, jamming the roads. Travellers arriving in Berne declared that three-quartcz'S of the population of Genoa had already fled,the city. SRILE AND AXIS i PRESIDENT INTENDS TO ; VISIT WASHINGTON * (Rec. 9 p.m.) SANTIAGO. Nov. 23. i The President of Chile (Dr. Rios) , told the press that Chile would sever i relations with the Axis if the country’s . interests required it. He added that he . was accepting Mr Roosevelt's invitation t to visit Washington at a convenient > time. Dr. Rios postponed his scheduled visit . to "Washington last month, after the [ United States Under-Secretaz-y of State . (Mr Sumner Welles) had alleged that ; Chile and Argentina were aiding the . Axis by permitting Axis agents to broadcast shipping movements, t i i Lord Cranborne’s Position.— lt is officially announced that in order that I Lord Cranborne may be in the best - position to fulfil his duties as Leader ■ of the House of Lords, he will have t special access to the War Cabinet.— Rugby, November 23.