ENTHUSIASM SUPPRESSED

Evening Star, Issue 25224, 11 July 1944, Page 6

ENTHUSIASM SUPPRESSED

ITALIANS DISTRUST OF ALLIES NO BETTER OFF THAN UNDER GERMANS (Rec. noon.) LONDON, July 10.. As the Allied armies push forward in Italy people in the freed areas are complaining that full liberation is not coming quickly enough. They say the Fascists still" hold key positions, and that eagerness to help in the fight against the Germans meets only with rebuffs. This pjeture behind the Allied lines is given by Mr Edward Johnson, ' Chicago Sun ' correspondent in Italy. He says that the people of Siena who a week ago delightedly -welcomed the Allied forces are now bewildered and growing resentful. This has happened before in other Italian cities. " The reasons aiven by the city's residents for their distrust and bitterness towards Allied forces," he says, " are that they expected liberation from German regimentation, but feel instead more strictly regimented than ever. " During German occupation a curfew was imposed at 11 p.m.; now it is at 9 p.m. People also expected the liquidation of the Fascists, but they say that the Fascists have been put in positions of power, and none have been punished. They also expected that the wall of silence which isolated them from the outer world would be smashed. Instead theyj claim that they are more poorly-informed and more isolated than ever. To-day the people are at best' tolerant of us. "In their hour of liberation the Italians are enthusastc and eager, but under the cloak of military expediency we rebuff and disillusion them. If we have any political directive for Italy it will probably be offered- in small doses at some time in future days, and perhaps then it will be too little and too late." - '