ITALIAN DECLARATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 91, 14 October 1943, Page 5

ITALIAN DECLARATION

Relations With Allies

STATUS AS CO-BELLIGERENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 11.20 a.m. LONDON, October 13. A state of war exists between Italy and Germany as from 3 p.m. (G.M.T.) today. An announcement by Marshal Badoglio to this effect was handed to the German Ambassador in Madrid. The declaration stated that Italy considered herself at war against Germany owing to "the repeated and intensified acts of war committed by the armed forces of Germany against Italians." The Badoglio Government's declaration of war against Germany docs not mean that Italy becomes an ally or one of the United Nations, says the Press Association's diplomatic correspondent. She remains a defeated country, with the status of a co-belligerent. The declaration i£ a logical step by the Government, which at the outset of the armistice declarations declared it was prepared to fight with the Allies immediately'their forces landed on Italian soil. Mr. Churchill has already indicated that Italy, by-"working her passage," may achieve some amelioration of the terms at the peace conference.

The main purpose of the Badoglio Government in declaring war is to rally and focus resistance against the Germans by the people, the vast majority -of whom have welcomed ' the Anglo-American armies as liberators. 5 Little can be expected from the Italian army, at least at present. It has no stomach left for fighting. Many thousands of Italian soldiers which were formerly part of the Axis garrison in the Balkans have been disarm- ? Ed by their former allies, and Germany's difficulty at present; is to transport them to the Reich for slavery in the Nazi war industries. Thousands are wearily attempting to reach their i homes in Italy. Many Italian politicians, soldiers, ■ and sailors have expressed a sincere desire to fight against the people they learnt to hate during the months of arrogant occupation. Marshal Badoglio declared last week that it was very 'hard to fight against the Germans be- ' cause they were good soldiers, but that it was much" harder to be their allies. » . , Italy's declaration of war. against Germany is the first example in this century of a nation fighting on both sides in the same war. It has taken Italy just over 27 months to complete , the full circle since Mussolini stabbed France in the back and joined in the war alongside Germany. A year ago Italian troops under Field-Marshal JRommel were facing the British at El Alamein, where ten days, later General Montgomery launched the attack that drove the Axis from North Africa. Now, organised and equipped, Italian units outside Italy have been waiting for days for the declaration to join / in the battle alongside the British and the Americans. Their, knowledge of the present battle ground and also their services behind the lines will be of considerable value to the Allied commanders. The Italian fleet, already voluntarily under Allied control,'is reported to be prepared to throw its full weight into the battle in the Mediterranean. s'tiffer resistance hoped. / ~^lt is mainly to civilians that the / Badoglio Government will look to im~ / plem'ent its war declaration. The people of Italy in the Allied-occupied south so far have done little except to greet our soldiers with flowers and kisses. Now it is hoped that the resistance will stiffen throughout the country and that the people will rally * to the Allies. It is hoped they will lose no opportunity for sabotage and also that they will refuse to work in war factories for the Germans and do their utmost to hamper and destroy the German war machine'in Italy. In a statement to the Press at his headquarters, Marshal Badoglio said: "The Government of which I am the head was constitutionally , nominated by the King. It has a single objective —to free the country of German oppression. It is obvious that this can only be done by a united military ef- ; fort in which we shall work in the " closest possible manner with the British and American forces. For the full accomplishment of this, all those who love Italy above all else must join according to the best of their ability in the work of redemption." Marshal Badoglio continued: "As soon as the war is ended and victory is won. as most surely it can be, the present Government will • consider its * mission accomplished and will be thoroughly content, having ■ freed the country of German occupation. Accordingly .the Government undertakes here and now to give a formal assurance that at the end of the war the Italians will "be perfectly free to choose the Government which is desired for the no less important tasks of peace and reconstruction. This undertaking has already been given in the decree dissolving the Chamber of Fasci and Corporations in which it was stated that elections would be ' held four months after the end of hostilities. What was said then as reaffirmed now. The present Government has clearly defined the tasks of leading the country until peace is won. With that its mandate will CC3SG " The Associated Press of Great Britain points out that the statement was distributed to the Press through Allied headquarters and military channels, and presumably was thereby given the Allied blessing.