"CONDITIONAL" PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 24919, 17 July 1943, Page 5

"CONDITIONAL" PEACE

MUSSOLINI'S DESPERATE OVERTURES SUMMARILY REJECTED BY ALLIES (Rec. 11.a.m.) LONDON, July 16. While the Allied radio is hammering home the joint ChurchillRoosevelt message to the Italian people, it has been revealed in London that in recent months Fascist diplomats have tried hard to find a way out of the war which at the same time would save the face of Mussolini and the Fascist regime. The 8.8. C. New York and Algiers radios are broadcasting the joint message at frequent intervals. The Algiers radio read the statement in Italian, French, English, and German on two wave lengths. The announcer invited listeners to spread the news that the message would be read in every broadcast throughout the day. The ' Evening Standard's ' diplomatic correspondent says that it. can be revealed that Mussolini offered his " help " to get Italy out of th,e war. He made special approaches to Washington, but they were turned down. Mussolini's idea of peace terms was very "conditional," and did not correspond in any .Way with the Casablance declaration of unconditional surrendor. Washington and London made it clear that nothing short of a clean sweep as far rs the regime was concerned \vould satisfy them. President Roosevelt, however, assured the Pope that the rights of the Catholic Church would be respected and protected. This situation drove Mussolini back ion to the fake " fight to a finish " attitude which does not correspond with the feelings of the bulk of the Italian people. Behind a screen of bluster it is expected that a further attempt will be fliade—between the time of the occupation of Sicily and the forthcoming attack against Italy proper. These peace manoeuvres will be rejected unless they amount to unconditional surrender. The Allies do not intend to permit any Fascist diplomatic gymnastics aimed at preserving the re?ime or retaining territory taken rom neighbours.