ARMISTICE TALKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1943, Page 5

ARMISTICE TALKS

REPORT FROM SWITZERLAND

LONDON, July 27. Preliminary negotiations for an armistice between Italy and the Allies began at the Vatican last night, according to a message from Switzerland which is published in the Swedish "Svenska Dagbladet." The message adds that simultaneously with these talks uninterrupted negotiations are proceeding in Rome between Herr yon Mackensen, the German Ambassador, assisted by a number of German experts, and Marshal Badoglio. Mussolini's fall is believed to have been as unexpected to Herr Hitler as to the rest of the world, says the "Daily Mail" correspondent on the German frontier. It is reliably reported that Hitler flew back to Berlin from his headquarters on the eastern front. The first comment received from Russia on Mussolini's downfall was made by a Moscow radio commentator, who stated: "The blows struck against Hitler at Kursk and Orel were echoedin Sicily and have continued to resound at Verona. This was the deathknell for both of the Fascist dictators. Hitler's defeat in Russia has inevitably put an end to Mussolini's career. The whole Fascist bloc headed by Hitler is sick unto death." Reuters Ankara correspondent reports that Mussolini's eclipse has caused the greatest excitement throughout Turkey. "Italy is done for" are the words on everybody's lips. Turks everywhere congratulate the British and the Americans. In Sweden the Press unanimously interprets the Duce's dismissal as a prelude to the rapidly-approaching capitulation of Italy.

MILITARY REGIME

BADOGLIO'S CABINET

RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, July 27. "Marshal Badoglio's Government is a "military one, and his chief task and immediate problems are the war and the maintenance of order," said Rome radio, commenting for the first time on the new Government. "It is more than a personal Government; it embraces organisational capacities, especially in the military field. It is a vigorous Government, inexorable in carrying out its duties." Explaining the changes in the Government the radio said: "It is necessary that it should be known abroad that no moral collapse has occurred. The faithful interpretations of the feelings of the Italian people in the messages of the King and Marshal Badoglio have filled all Italy with manly pride. It was felt that the situation had become so critical that it was absolutely necessary to achieve a much stronger welding of the spiritual forces of the nation to put-up a more effective defence. "What happened was extremely simple, and it proves that the Italian people are loyal to Italy. The people in 1922 chose Fascism to save themselves from the demagogues, and they rejected it in 1D43 after discovering that curtailment of liberty and errors which it enabled the leaders to make would compromise the nation's war effort. The change occurred in wartime because war made it possible to I realise that Fascism was not giving the country the order, organisation, coordination of ideas, and plans which I were necessary. The Italians, in Smaking the change, acted as a fully i conscious, grown-up nation. They gave Fascism all the time it needed for its experiment. When the King of Italy gave the sign, the people saluted with joy the beginning of a new life for the country. The Italian people are much stronger and more united than yesterday. As long as the enemy are on the threshold our people will repeat Marshal ( Badoglio's words, 'The war goes The radio added that no official decision was available on the further existence of the Fascist Party. Demonstrations against Fascist emblems were unimportant outrages, which were completely suppressed. In the present decisive moment all conflicts or revenge and measures against the past must be rejected as unworthy. Tokio radio announced that the Italian Ambassador, Mario Indelli, acting on instructions from Marshal Badoglio, informed Mr. Shigpmitsu, the Foreign Minister, that notwithstanding Mussolini's resignation, the Italian Government's policy of prosecuting the joint war, based on the Tripartite Agreement with Japan and Germany, is unshakeable. The Domei news agency says that Mr. Shigemitsu told the Cabinet that Japan's war policy will remain completely unchanged, despite developments which might follow Mussolini's resignation.