SEEKING WAY OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21149, 17 July 1943, Page 3

SEEKING WAY OUT

ITALIAN LEADERS

APPROACH TO ALLIES

FRESH MOVE EXPECTED (11.30 a.m.) LONDON July 16. Wnile tne Allied radios are hammering home tne joint ChurchillRoosevelt message to the Italian people, it has’been revealed in Lonuon tnat in recent months Fascist diplomats nave tried hard to lino a way out ol the war which would at Uie same time save the face of Signor Mussolini and tne 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 iiivited listeners to spread the news that the message would be read again in every broadcast throughout the day.

The Evening Standard’s diplomatic correspondent says that it can be revealed that Signor Mussolini offered his. “help” to get Italy out of the 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 Casablanca declaration of unconditional surrender.

Washington and London have made it clear that nothing short of a clean sweep as far as the regime is concerned would 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 on to the fake “fight to a finish,” attitude, which does not correspond with the feelings of the bulk of the Italian people. Behind the screen of bluster, it is expected that a further attempt will be made —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 regime or retaining territory taken from neighbours.