ITALY’S FATAL CHOICE.

Evening Star, Issue 24002, 29 September 1941, Page 6

ITALY’S FATAL CHOICE.

From reports that come to hand at intervals it seems clear that internal affairs in Italy are in a critical condition. In the last war, that country, after much hesitation, took sides with the Allies, and though its army did not greatly distinguish itself, it was on the right side when the Central Powers were defeated. In this war the same hesitation was observed before Mussolini made the plunge and became Germany’s jackal. Now he has cause to regret his choice, for he is in a most unenviable position. The diplomatic correspondent of a London journal, basing his assertion on information received from the Italian frontier, declares that the whole of Italy is waiting for the end of Fascism. Though Mussolini since he took control of the affairs of state has been all-powerful, there have been in the background antiFascist elements waiting for an opportunity to bring about his downfall. A disillusioned, overtaxed, and war-weary people may be ready to take sides with this section, but their activities would be hampered by the fact that German troops hold key positions in Italy. Mussolini is now silent. None of the characteristic bombastic utterances with which he was accustomed to gull his people are now forthcoming. In a speech in June, at the end of Italy’s first twelve months of war, he tried to gloss over his country’s disastrous record. Abyssinia, he boasted, would continue to resist and would be reconquered. Italy would occupy the whole of Greece, Britain would be driven from the Mediterranean, the United States would enter the war or not as it pleased, since in effect it was in the war already, an Axis victory was certain, perfect understanding existed, between Italy and Germany there was complete accord. Not a word was said of the reverses

suffered by they Italians. They were beaten in Africa, in the Mediterranean, in the air, and the much-vaunted fleet was reduced to a mere skeleton. This is a sorry record which Mussolini ignored. What successes were achieved in Albania and Greece were obtained by German help, at the cost of total subservience to the Nazis. In his desire for military glory Mussolini expended vast sums in building up his fighting forces on sea, land, and air, in the conquest and occupation •of Ethiopia, and in developing other parts of North Africa in Italian possession. The result has been the impoverishment of tbe Italian people, a condition that could be borne when the promise of resounding victories was before thorn. Now those prospects have vanished, and a dejected people see nothing before them but misery and defeat. Between the Italian and British peoples there has always existed the friendliest feeling, while even in peace time the relations between the Italian and German populations have been anything but cordial. Taking the position as it stands at the moment, Italy is-in the shadow of a great humiliation. Mussolini, in his vaulting ambition, has brought his country to the edge of disaster.